12/24/20 - The Midnight Sky (2020) - 3+/10
What a gratuitously hyped but singularly bland feature; a decent looking film with big stars that goes nowhere and despite the space travel’s lofty hopes falls completely flat. It is utterly devoid of drama or excitement, and only vaguely interesting. This is a distinct and complete miss, bringing nothing to the genre or anything of real value to the cinema viewer.
Visually it is fairly competent, but frill-less and vacuous of meaning. The acting is much the same. Not poor, but provides nothing to feel empathy with. Austere and aloof.
I can’t stand the “sci-fying” of things that would have no reason to be. There is a scene where the characters are playing Rummy on the station and, of course, they are using these thin plastic translucent playing cards. Real futuristic, but WHY? Playing cards haven’t really changed in at least 100 years, and have no need to change. It's such an empty and frustrating gesture, especially when so much of the film is bringing nothing to the table. Its a minor quibble but it sticks.
Of course you get the generic, obvious and predictable space drama moments. Yawn. If you have seen most films with space navigation or space walks, you know what is coming. At literally every turn. They just happen to do it without being unique or striking. Same with the snow travel. Never doubted and of course they get through as the plot demands.
Blargh. The f*n twist at the end is pretty ridiculous. It feels like a Hallmark meets SyFy Channel feature with money from a bigger studio & stars. Extreme. Eye. Roll. At least in the long run, they and all humanity die, which gives me some catharsis for the film which I did not enjoy.
