Review of The Future (2013) by Chris N — 21 Mar 2013

Another eccentric film from director, performer, and actress Miranda July. That's the nicest thing I can say about this film without getting clouded in debate, because for all the impressive and interesting aspects of this film, it is painfully uneven.

As a test of cinema, of the ideals behind getting to the middle road of one's life and not liking where you are it was great conceptually. You have a couple in their thirties, both happy to be together, but disinterested with their outcomes in life.

They have one month before they adopt a damaged cat from a shelter (a decision that is never explained or warranted) to do whatever they want. For some reason they both quit their jobs and try falling into habits and causes.

It doesn't come easy, and they both drift apart, which is something I generally like about the film. I love that they try to explore the world around them and actually make an effort in changing themselves and find that only trying without passion, or experiencing the world isn't the thrill ride they expected.

What I ended up having problems with were the choices made to wrap up the existential conflicts that both characters evidently come to. Instead of really speaking about what happens after the bubble bursts, July goes very formulaic by breaking them apart and developing a side relationship, which was intentionally uncomfortable but also clichéd.

The flighty, dispassionate artistry to some of the dialogue is distracting, as is a puppet cat. The cat tells the story of how they adopted it and would be coming back, which happens intermittently in most annoying way possible.

I did like the very end of the cat and how it told of how it was unloved but always waiting. Still, this film left me exhausted and annoyed without any explanation for why it did what it did. July needs to not make commercial films and make films that speak to human nature preferably.