This found-footage movie is quite low-key for a sci-fi thriller - meaning there aren't giant robots fighting monsters or nuclear bombs countdowns. It's a space exploration yarn with an old-school, "Rendezvous with Rama" vibe, where action takes a backseat to mystery and awe.
The main problem is structure. The movie opens with a flash-forward, then alternates between two different time-lines, both the first and the last days of the mission. It's a mistake; not only jumping back and forth is distracting, it also spoils the death of a crew member, an effective scene which would have carried more tension if we hadn't already watched its aftermath.
This also muddles other characters' arcs; they start off as morose and disillusioned, then we jump back to before the incident, when they are still optimistic. Playing with time like that is a dangerous storytelling choice; with a few exceptions (think Memento), the dramatic progression works better as a chronological crescendo from good to bad to worse.
Maybe I'm sounding like The Europa Report is a mess, but it's not. Like Duncan Jones' Moon, this movie looks neat in spite of a slim budget; the cast is composed of competent character actors. After the first two thirds of Interstellar, this is probably as close to a "hard sci-fi / space exploration adventure" as fans of the genre are likely to get in a long time.
6,5/10
The main problem is structure. The movie opens with a flash-forward, then alternates between two different time-lines, both the first and the last days of the mission. It's a mistake; not only jumping back and forth is distracting, it also spoils the death of a crew member, an effective scene which would have carried more tension if we hadn't already watched its aftermath.
This also muddles other characters' arcs; they start off as morose and disillusioned, then we jump back to before the incident, when they are still optimistic. Playing with time like that is a dangerous storytelling choice; with a few exceptions (think Memento), the dramatic progression works better as a chronological crescendo from good to bad to worse.
Maybe I'm sounding like The Europa Report is a mess, but it's not. Like Duncan Jones' Moon, this movie looks neat in spite of a slim budget; the cast is composed of competent character actors. After the first two thirds of Interstellar, this is probably as close to a "hard sci-fi / space exploration adventure" as fans of the genre are likely to get in a long time.
6,5/10