Jupiter Ascending

Dir: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, The Wachowskis

2015

***

The Wachowskis' Jupiter Ascending is a bit nuts, fairly incoherent, completely ridiculous and a bit of a mess but it was also heaps of fun. There are times were I couldn't help but be reminded of films such as The Fifth Element, Flash Gordon and even Barbarella but credit due, there is something uniquely original about this sci-fi oddity. I think the problem probably lies in trying to please too many cross-sections of film fans. It has space travel covered, the 'chosen one' story, a bit of gothic, a bit of steam-punk, aliens, alliances, alien alliances, etc so that covers the Star Wars/Star Trek fans, The Lord of the Rings nuts and all youth-literature fans in-between. It has its tongue firmly in its cheek at all times and there are plenty of nudge nudge, wink wink moments to enjoy, it only really trips up when it asks the audience to take it seriously. It's escapist fantasy for the best part but there are times where it looks like an episode of Dynasty in space, it gets a little too complicated and hilariously straight-faced. I'm not too sure if Mila Kunis really brought anything to the character but that said, her character is pretty simple and not particularly well written. The same could be said for Channing Tatum, although playing a half solder, half wolf mercenary with stupidly pointy ears can't have been easy. Sean Bean is Sean Bean, a Yorkshireman in space, doing his bit when there's trouble at mill. The award for most spectacular performance goes to Eddie Redmayne. He may have wowed audiences in his roles as Stephen Hawkins and Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl but it's his deep-voiced, angry Princess Diana type character in Jupiter Ascending that he will be remembered for in years to come. What I really liked about the film was all the little things you don't usually see. There is an action scene that involves the main characters flying around the skyscrapers of Boston at dusk. How many scenes in any film do you see filmed at dusk? The sky is a beautiful blue, light on the horizon and royal above it. Add the young light from the street below and you've got quite the striking background that I'm pretty sure hasn't been done before as one of the golden rules of film making is that you never film at dusk. They had the technology to make it work, so why not. Visuals have never been a problem for the Wachowskis and I would argue that Jupiter Ascending is their best looking. The special effects are absolutely stunning, so much so that it really does highlight how dodgy everything else is. If you were to ask me if it worked as a coherent film I would have to say no, not at all, but then again, I was entertained throughout and it impressed me on several occasions. A music video without the music (although the soundtrack is excellent). It's something very original that also looks like loads of films that have been made before, certainly unique but certainly not as bad as everyone says, if you're looking for a boring formulaic sci-fi adventure, then this isn't the film for you but then the same goes for if you want to watch something intelligent and convincing. I wouldn't pick it to be on my team but I'd stick up for it in a fight. Destined to be one of cinemas great oddities maybe.