Review 346: Tomorrowland
Admittedly flawed but visually stunning, thoughtful and ambitious sic-fi film, Tomorrowland represents another fascinating addition to Brad Bird's weird and wonderful filmography.Despite what initial reports would lead you to believe, this is not an adaptation of the Disney theme parks of the same name. It's very much an original sic fi film with a plot that is equal parts fascinatingly, intriguing and hopefully optimistic.
Writer/Director Brad Bird and co-writer Damon Lindelof were reportedly influenced by Walt Disney's optimistic philosophy of innovation and utopia, particularly his conceptual vision for the planned community known as EPCOT and it shows.
It's about how the ideas of science and exploration are able to grow to make the world a better place. It shows us that the future is what we make it to be. No one is going to make that change for us, we have to go out and make that change ourselves. It’s those ideas coupled with the awe inspiring visuals that makes this film worth seeing, even if it’s arguably better as an experience than a story or a message yet wants to be all three.
Another positive about Tomorrowland is whilst watching it, we as an audience don't get any idea where it's going and Brad Bird has described this movie as more about the journey there than the actual location.
It's about how the ideas of science and exploration are able to grow to make the world a better place. It shows us that the future is what we make it to be. No one is going to make that change for us, we have to go out and make that change ourselves. It’s those ideas coupled with the awe inspiring visuals that makes this film worth seeing, even if it’s arguably better as an experience than a story or a message yet wants to be all three.
Another positive about Tomorrowland is whilst watching it, we as an audience don't get any idea where it's going and Brad Bird has described this movie as more about the journey there than the actual location.
That's very creative and shows us that it is important for us to enjoy the journey wherever we are going. This is a daring and bold move on his part. This element of mystery and unpredictability keeps us as an audience on the edge of our seats and makes for an exciting viewing experience because it leaves us dying to know what happens next.
It's a film that evokes imagination and hope, hope that together, the future can be what we make it out to be and that we can make the world a better place.
As the title suggests, Tomorrowland is about the promise of the direct result of the collective imagination of what Tomorrow can be. We have to believe that tomorrow is in their power and we can use that to build a positive future. We need to start owning it and stepping forward to do it.
Thats all fine and dandy... until the final act of the film which builds to such a rushed climax. The problem with this movie is that while premise is intruiging, but the payoff is lackluster. The whole time, the movie keeps building up and building up and then all of a sudden... it sprints to the finish line with no real, satifying payoff, the ending just left something to be desired and felt very rushed. Not to give anything away here, but the way I would have done it, I would have liked to have seen Tomorowland before Tomorrowland. Some of the films heavier themes are handled with brash, heavy handed honesty as Hugh Laurie's David Nix makes an otherwise beautifully worded and emotional speech about humanity's unwillingness to save itself. Comparing their fate to Titanic deliberately staring at the Ice berg because "you want to sink."
It's a film that evokes imagination and hope, hope that together, the future can be what we make it out to be and that we can make the world a better place.
As the title suggests, Tomorrowland is about the promise of the direct result of the collective imagination of what Tomorrow can be. We have to believe that tomorrow is in their power and we can use that to build a positive future. We need to start owning it and stepping forward to do it.
Thats all fine and dandy... until the final act of the film which builds to such a rushed climax. The problem with this movie is that while premise is intruiging, but the payoff is lackluster. The whole time, the movie keeps building up and building up and then all of a sudden... it sprints to the finish line with no real, satifying payoff, the ending just left something to be desired and felt very rushed. Not to give anything away here, but the way I would have done it, I would have liked to have seen Tomorowland before Tomorrowland. Some of the films heavier themes are handled with brash, heavy handed honesty as Hugh Laurie's David Nix makes an otherwise beautifully worded and emotional speech about humanity's unwillingness to save itself. Comparing their fate to Titanic deliberately staring at the Ice berg because "you want to sink."
The final resolution feels just too simplistic for a film with such stunning visuals, rich and lofty ideas and such a talented director behind the camera that lacks proper closure and pathos and didn't bring its ideas properly to the forefront and ultimately weren't given the proper food for though that they deserved. When two Rockem Suckem robots start duking it out, you know Brad Bird and co-writer Damon Lindelof had no idea how to resolve this story.
Writer/Director Brad Bird's direction is fantastic, his background in animation helping craft some gorgeously photogenic imagery and some tightly edited and inventive action scenes including a single take sequence which follows your Casey Newton The cinematography is beautiful and captures the bright the special effects are spectacular, paiting a vibrant and optimistic vue of a possible future. The score by Michael Giacchino is magical, capturing the whimsy and adventurous spirit of the old Disney movies. The production design is extraordinary (Brad Bird's vision of Tomorrowland is mind blowing featuring jet packs, monorails and zero-gravity swimming pools) the costumes are superb, the action scenes are exciting, the tension is killing, the scenery is brethtaking, the props are terrifically crafted.
The acting is fantastic, George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy and Hugh Laurie all nail it in their roles.
George Clooney nailed it as grizzled inventor Frank Walker, a really interesting career choice for him. The character of Frank Walker is a broken man, he started off as a dreamer but has since become disenchanted and it takes him a long time for him to trust anyone and Clooney portrays that effortlessly.
Britt Robertson shows strong potential as Casey Newton, she's almost a polar of Frank, she's an optimist, she believes that there is a possibility to save the future. She's also intelligent, clever and inqusitive and Robertson portrays her excellently. She's someone who, when we meet her in the film, hasn't really found her footing yet. She's wanted to be a part of NASA but there's no place for her because the system is now obsolete and she's this outgoing, go getter - that is until she meets Frank Walker and the adventure begins. We're told that Casey is the last, best hope to fix humanity, but it's never explained how or why. I refrain from reffering to her as the "Chosen One' yet
Raffey Cassidy is a true standout as Athena; she's astonishing. Mysterious, intelligent and enigmatic. She looks like a child yet she possess a wisedom beyond her years. she's also seen a lot and yet she remains unshakebaly optimistic. So much of this character hinged on Cassidy being able to bring those qualities to life in a believeable way and she nailed it.
Hugh Laurie's is also solid as David Nix, but he's not in the film as much as I would've liked. He's a scientist and a technocrat and he has a harsh, practicallity about human problems. He's the kind of villain who sees himself as the hero yet his motivations come across as half baked with very little time to be explored any real depth. Bird and Lindelof seemed to be making bold moves with his character and portraying him in a more morally grey but unfortunately they fail to keep those promises and just back away from instead of embracing them.
Tim McGraw, Kathryn Hahn and Keegan Michael Key round out the cast in supporting roles, some are handled better than others but overall make do with what they are given.
Tomorrowland is flawed but genius - and optimistic filmmaking, 4.5/5.
The Anonymous Critic.
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