The Silent Planet

The only reason I watched this movie was because Elias Koteas was in it. Eveything else was confusing. Hardly any dialogue other than computer generated. The scenery was very nice, but the special effects were basic. I had to use my imagination to figure what this movie was about. I think it had to do with two inmates who were sent to another planet to do some mining. I think. Strange movie. If there were only two people on a deserted planet, I think they should be friendlier. Especially the female character. So many missing pieces to this movie. The only good thing about this movie is that Elias Koteas was in it.

Its not that it is bad, but there is so little surprise or interest or statements to justify a 90 minute run time. It is more like a 15 minute short story stretched out, but that wouldn't work as the characters need space to deliver whatever this is.

Admittedly I watched all of it and was not bored, so the actors were solid and managed to carry the film, but they had so little to work with,

The Scifi element is very minor just enough to create the situation. It is not about special effects, though the aliens did make me laugh, as it was a flashback I am not sure if they are supposed to be symbolic or an actual experience.

And am not even sure what the film is trying to say, I suppose it is a character driven exploration of relationships.

This film is cerebral and character-driven, which is a type of sci-fi I like if I'm in the mood. Think Solaris or Moon. It's about solitude, memory and the all-too-human desire for revenge. It's interesting to see veteran actor Elias Koteas work with the much younger Briana Middleton, who totally holds her own playing opposite him.

It has issues though. The narrative is a bit muddled, leaving several things unexplained. The ending doesn't have the emotional impact it might have done. Also the flashbacks to Earth feel less realistic than the depiction of the prison planet. This was possibly the director's intention, though I found myself wanting to get back to the planet every time a flashback came along.

Overall I enjoyed the film's mournful, downbeat tone.

I have this thing where I want to like Canadian movies, because, well... yea, we CAN make great movies. But I'll be really honest that I don't see a point in watching this movie.

Actors - good job.

Visually very nice - nice effects, nice lights, some cool visuals, and that nice Labrador nature.

The plot - okay, so the scriptwriter liked Solaris and wanted to make something similar. Fair enough, but... Maybe a bit more originality would have been nice?

So you have a low budget, you get few characters... here, their backstories are just so unoriginal. Been seen a million times. The only aspect I liked was - but this might just be my own interpretation, looking for something good - the idea of peoples' identities and thoughts mixing in "the alien fog". It could have been developed way more, and exploited way better.

In general this movie just lacks originality, plot, zest, character motivation... what the characters do felt, at every corner, not as actual character buildup, but some "I need the character to do this just to have more plot. It could have had less "play-action", and just more thought, more atmosphere. The play-action, lame action, just ruined the atmosphere, and made the characters bland.

All in all... even with the whole crew having done a good job, I just don't see any reason for this movie.

It's pretty hard to enter the movie, it's confused, but slowly the answers appear and the movie really take place.

The music/sound design is good, no real music, but that the title of the movie.

The photography is nice, nothing fancy.

Some element are cheap : the scenery, I never feel on another planet, more in a desert country. Same for the props wheelbarrow and the helmet, it's just some basic stuff.. Lot of thing are unexplained, like the source of food etc.. same for the behavior of the character, sometimes they act like nobody else will do... The cgi is ok, there is not a lot which is good.

The actors are good too.

Don't expect an action movie, there is an hidden enemy, but it's a psychological thriller that what it is.