This is one of those movies that I felt like giving a 4 to, but knew that the rating had to be a 5. The thing is, it's pretty masterfully done, especially considering the budget, and is one of the more intelligent and complete SciFis of the decade. Why did I feel it deserved a 4, then? Dunno. It just didn't reach me as much as other movies have, for some reason.
The first thing you will notice is that this draws heavy influences from 2001: A Space Odyssey, except without the acid. Well, maybe a little bit of it, or just some pot, or something, as the film is still somewhat mind-bending, but always retains a solid storyline that follows logic and doesn't go crazy and start shooting random colours at you. There is a pretty big twist in the story, but it is given away near the beginning, and the rest of the movie is spent exploring the new situation. One of the things that make this so good, other than originality, is the detail and the possibility for thematic and ethical analysis; a lot of little things are present which make you think about a situation a lot more than you would have otherwise. It all feels very calculated.
And of course, the cinematography is great, the acting is superb, the editing is precise and creative and the pacing is spot-on. I guess the ending could've been better, but that's really just being overly critical. Basically, if you like deep, thought-out and original Sci-Fi, you can not allow yourself to miss this movie.
In a sentence:
One of the most original and intelligent Sci-Fi films of the decade, demonstrating that brilliant acting, editing, directing and writing are all possible on a small budget.
