Annientamento

Story wise I just couldn't get a connection with any of the characters. I wasn't intrigued and there were multiple moments in the movie where I even cringed a little by the simple writing, a little let down by Alex Garland this time.. but.. CGI was on point and at least the concept itself was original enough to make it worth a watch

While watching the movie, I was both engrossed by the events playing out onscreen while at the same time thinking "this could be done better". To me, the writing felt like it was done by a smart Middle-Schooler: smart enough to understand some science concepts and have a few interesting ideas, but too naive in the world to create realistic or logical human behavior.

There are just too many times that things occur that have no sense or logic. I'm not talking about the "alien" aspect, which is supposed to be somewhat mysterious and incomprehensible, but about the way that the humans in the story act or react to what's going on. The way that the government is handling the phenomenon seems strangely hands-off for what should be the most important event in the history of humanity, and the individuals involved make lots of odd decisions just to drive the story forward.

On top of that, there is a framing device where a survivor is being interrogated about the events of what is shown throughout the movie, and it not only doesn't provide any additional illumination to bother with the clunkiness, it tends to deflate a lot of the tension by giving away certain plot points before you see them on screen. The ending is more just vague for the sense of being mysterious rather than making you really ask questions afterward. I suspect that if you asked the Director how the ending related to the rest of the movie, he would't be able to give more of an answer than he wanted things to be left open-ended.

Finally, the characters are all fairly morose and sedated. There's a (weak) explanation in the movie for this, but the overall low energy makes you not care too much about any of the characters.

"Annihilation" begins with a captivating premise and a commendable lead cast, setting high expectations with its intriguing foundational idea. However, the film ultimately fails to deliver, hampered by a combination of lackluster supporting performances, tedious plot progression, and poorly executed dialogue.

The main cast, led with a certain gravitas, tries valiantly to bring depth to their roles, which are unfortunately penned with little sense and surrounded by weak character development. Their strong efforts starkly contrast with the uninspiring performances from the side cast, creating a jarring imbalance that disrupts the overall harmony of the film.

Dialogue throughout "Annihilation" feels forced and unnatural, often serving as clumsy exposition rather than meaningful character interaction. This issue is compounded by a soundtrack that, while fitting the film's theme, cannot compensate for the narrative deficiencies.

Perhaps the most glaring issue is the film's conclusion, which is riddled with logic flaws and does not make sense within the established context of the story. This not only leaves the viewer unsatisfied but also questions the coherence of the entire narrative.

In sum, "Annihilation" is a film that might attract viewers with its interesting premise and notable lead performances, but it quickly reveals itself as a frustrating experience, lacking in engaging storytelling and logical consistency. A classic case of a great idea that required much better execution to truly shine. This movie is only for die hard fans of paraterrestial films. Others better look into "Arrival".

The only advice I can give to anybody going to see Annihilation is: stick with it. I definitely was close to checking out around the middle point, but quickly my interest was piqued and in the blink of an eye the movie turned into a profound, 2001 meets Under The Skin meets Predator surreal science fiction near- masterpiece.

The first half is so patiently mediocre that the second half almost feels like a completely different movie, making the movie a mixed bag but one that's totally worth it. Some of the performances are great, some are okay, and at least one is noticeably bad. Natalie Portman turns in a great performance (she carries the entire film) and Jennifer Jason Leigh gives a reserved and underplayed angle to a well worn out archetype. The side characters however, like Gina Rodriguez and Tessa Thompson, are mostly annoying and sometimes border on being simply bad. Oscar Isaac is very good.

Most of the technical choices are good. The cinematography isn't particularly flashy but it captures the world behind the shimmer in all of it's messed up glory (the last twenty minutes are truly a thing to behold). The music choices are also a mixed bag. Soft strum guitar comes in at random intervals and doesn't really work, but the dark, brooding thump of a certain synth track really gives you a sense of cosmic horror.

I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm going to leave it at that. Go support this movie, even if it isn't perfect. There are so many great things about it that they way outweigh the flaws.

After watching this film I read the reviews voted "most helpful," which all were long lists of plot holes and logical inconsistencies. They are absolutely right. I didn't think about it while watching the film, but when it's pointed out, yeah, nothing in this movie makes much sense.

But I still really liked it. It's creepy and atmospheric and more concerned with the psychology of people on a suicide mission than on the nuts and bolts of scientific investigation. It's often intense , usually beautiful, well acted, and had some really weird and mesmerizing moments.

I won't argue that you should forgive it for its plot holes, or that it has any deep meaning, or anything like that. In fact, it's probably easier to make a convincing argument against the movie than for it. I'm just saying, I really liked it.

ADDENDUM: I looked at the user reviews recently (2024) and the top reviews are no longer lists of plot holes. The people who enjoyed the movie, like me, have since my review pushed the naysayers down. Which I fully support.