Review of Another Earth (2011) by Kyle A — 22 Jun 2012

"Another Earth" was suppose to be my kind of movie. A slow paced affair that blended two genres I hold a special place in my heart for (realism and science fiction) while showcasing a female lead with stronger intentions than hollywood films give women.

Sadly, it just doesn't gel right. It all seems so gimmicky, so amateur. The science fiction aspect of the film has one sole purpose: to give the movie a 'shocking ending'. It should play a slightly bigger role and it doesn't.

The truth of the matter is that while Mike Cahill might be going for a realism-genre blend, he's not talented enough to pull it off. If you're going to have sci-fi you have to make it a little more meaningful in the mix of things.

Films like "Meek's Cutoff" (western) and "The Kids Are Alright" (adding the lesbian relationship dynamic to the family drama) are pitch perfect examples of how to do what Cahill was going for.

But "Another Earth's" problems don't end there. While there are moments of great acting, cinematography, score, etc, there are twice as many moments that are the exact opposite. The film (or rather, video) feels lit, which is extremely annoying.

William Mapother is highly annoying as a sulking middle aged man (on the other hand, Brit Marling has some solid moments). The score is sometimes used as filler to keep the audience up. It's all rather shoddy, which is a disappointment considering the intriguing premise.