Thoughts on #TheAndromedaStrain (1971 version): All things considered, its really an underrated film. Criticizing the slow pacing and muted performances misses the point. Its a procedural, a grueling quest to identify and attempt to comprehend the first discovered extraterrestrial lifeform, which also happens to kill just about anyone or anything it comes near. As such, the pace should not be (and is not) peppy and fast, but methodical. And the acting (by a cast of character actors--there are no real stars) adds to the sense of reality. You may not necessarily forget youre watching a film, but the illusion is the better maintained. The film also doesnt try to make its characters especially likable: Stone is something of a prig, Hall is a smart-ass, and Dutton really just wants to get it all over with and retire to Alaska. Only Leavitt (and Kate Reid gives the best performance by far) is really LIKABLE, and even her wisecracks (along with her patience) grow thin--by design, Id imagine--as the film progresses. Rather than weaken the film, it makes it seem more real; these are four disparate people who are not necessarily happy about being thrust into this situation. They stick together, but theres no artificial camaraderie or conflict--it all feels quite natural. To be fair, some of the secondary performers are kind of wooden, but not in any fatal way. Its also worth noting that, while Hollywood today has trouble giving PoC, let alone WoC, adequate roles, Paula Kelly is cast here in a role that makes no mention of her race and no undue fuss about her gender. Theres the faintest hint of chemistry between her and Hall, but the film isnt concerned with such matters. Boris Levens sets were deservedly Oscar-nominated: the Wildfire set is quite stunning. The editing was also nominated, and the film is well put-together and suspenseful in its own deliberate way. The Academy erred, however, in not nominating Gil Mellés great eerie electronic score, Richard H. Klines cinematography, the sound mixing and editing (the sound effects are top-notch), or the visual effects, which give us Andromeda in all its cold, ruthlessly efficient perfection. Hell, Im sure at least one of the Adapted Screenplay nominees wasnt as good as Nelson Giddings work here. If its not the best science-fiction Robert Wise ever directed (The Day the Earth Stood Still?), its an impressive, intelligent production nonetheless, a film worthy of re-evaluation as a work of hard sci-fi cinema 85/100 (***.5)
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 18:14:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015