Predestination

Twisty, turny and mind-bending, one viewing won't be enough for this time travelling head scratcher. Two plots – one revolving around Ethan Hawke's temporal agent seeking to stop a terrorist, the other following the life of a precocious orphan who isn't quite like everybody else – are intricately and intelligently woven together to not only build tension but to explore provocative themes to spoiler-y to mention here. In fact, Predestination is one of those movies its hard to say much of anything about. It's such a meticulously drip-fed thriller – slowly and superbly unravelling as each and every minute of the runtime ticks on – that the real joy here is unwrapping and grasping (or attempting to any rate) what it is you're actually witnessing. In his second collaboration with Aussie filmmakers the Spierig Brothers, Hawke is in career-best form as the veteran time traveller on the brink of burning out, whilst relative newcomer Sarah Snook (born and bred South Australian) is outstanding in a complex and demanding role that has rightly grabbed the attention of Hollywood. The Spierig's also demonstrate their diversity in both the writing and directing departments, going from the enjoyable but tonally lightweight splatter-fest Daybreakers to this altogether more mature, thematically heavy and narratively elaborate sci-fi saga that still manages to maintain a high excitement level. This year's Looper or Inception.

Interesting and captivating with a new twist to the classic formula. Great cinematography and excellent acting contribute to this refreshing Sci-Fi/Time Travel film.

Rising actress Sarah Snook with a stellar performance is backed by solid performances of both Hawke and Taylor.

Such movies usually suffer from failed attempts at originality and complexity boarding on confusion. This movie avoids both by not trying to surprise and shock the viewer but rather act more as a mystery novel - unfolding with precision, letting the viewers participate in the events and discoveries to come. Much like a good old Agatha Christie book would successfully do.

The Spierig brothers keep getting better with each movie and this is a great step forward in what seems to be a promising career.

There is nothing new under the Time Travel sun but the delivery is excellent which makes this movie worth watching - at least twice, as any good Time Travel movie requires.

Out of Australia, Predestination is directed by Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig (who also scores the music). The Spierig's also adapt the screenplay from Robert A. Heinlein's story "All You Zombies". It stars Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Noah Taylor, Christopher Kirby and Madeleine West. Ben Nott is the cinematographer.

If we throw up a simple synopsis for this pic, it's about a time travelling agent who goes back in time to stop a killer known as "The Fizzle Bomber" - whilst helping a trans-gender man who has just told him a fascinating and emotionally wrought story. But simple is not a word readily associated with the Spierig's deliriously complicated mind meld of a movie.

The first half of film is the story being relayed by Snook to Hawke, and then the film spirals into a world of temporal loops and frazzled paradoxes. This demands the utmost attention from the viewer, a piece guaranteed to have you asking tricky questions, and also likely to have you rewinding some scenes for clarity - like I did!

This is not an actioner, this is very cerebral and sedate in tone, adult science fiction that's as audacious as it is clever. Snook is quite simply outstanding, the various layers she gives to her characterisations grip with intensity and emotional heart tugs. Hawke once again is reassuringly great - in that how he doesn't need to overact, he recognises the tone needed here, whilst knowing it's wise to let his co-star take the main stage.

Thematically the story blends its dizzying thoughts about time and its impact on the human race, with that of our basic human condition, that of identity. This is a very rewarding production for those who wont be popping off to make a cup of coffee during the viewing, it's hoped that in time this will garner more fans and be seen as something of a sci-fi gem. 8/10

"The Snake that Eats Its own Tail " It's all paradoxical. Predestination is a top-notch Australian science-fiction thriller film based on book All You Zombies has stimulating dialogues, excellent acting and marvelous cinematography.

The story is brilliant and the acting by Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, and Noah Taylor is splendid.

The story is recanted by Jane/John to "The Bartender" just like the written book story, and the events of John's story match every detail of the original short story. A Temporal Agent is trying to hunt down the Fizzle Bomber in the past before he devastates NYC in 1975. He fails and the bomb explodes in his face. After face reconstruction, he (Ethan Hawke) travels back to 1970 as a bartender. John (Sarah Snook) walks in claiming to write under the pen name The Unmarried Mother. Back in 1945 Cleveland, baby John was left at an orphanage as a girl they named Jane. She was different and smarter than the other girls. Mr. Robertson (Noah Taylor) recruits her into a mysterious government space program. It's actually a front for the time traveling agency.

Movie is a loopy tale with awestruck ending summing up all twist. Predestination is among one of the best suspense thriller sci-fi. I would highly recommend anyone who is looking for a classic suspense thriller sci-fi to watch this masterpiece.

I feel like sometimes great movies don't get enough recognition, films like Prisoners, Enemy, or Predestination.

This film impacted me heavily, and it kept me thinking and thinking about it for a week after I saw it. Ethan Hawke gave a great performance, which keeps me wondering why he ever agreed to do "The Purge", but the real standout is Sarah Snook, who is breathtaking in her role.

One of the best things about this film was that when I thought it was going in one direction, it took a hard right hand turn. Not many movies make me doubt myself like that. The direction was clean and solid, the cinematography was immaculate, and the special and visual effects were outstanding. Everything about the look of the film was perfect.

My only complaints are that the movie's first act was a little slow. However, as the film progresses into the second and third act, the long first act is absolutely necessary. If it was a little shorter, it would've worked so well.

Confusing? Yes. Enjoyable? Big time.

If you can see Predestination, definitely do so. 8/10