The Assessment

Alicia Vikander was already part of a dystopian Sci-Fi drama once (Ex Machina). Now she gets a totally different part in a film that feels like another "Black Mirror" episode and a good one also, nevertheless. From a first gaze of the movie's poster, I wasn't so sure, but when it had ended...so good.

The future, if to be franc and honest, is already here. Dystopian content is almost not any news and more and more films about dark future are rolling in our doorstep. This one is another that speaks about class differences, with a different direction and point of view.

Both Mia and Arian are well educated couple, that contributes to the well-being of the society. Both want to have a child, but the reality which they are living in does not allow reproduction. The government forbids children without supervision which validates that both candidates are suitable to raise children.

The supervision if from an assessor, which lives full week with the couple and determines at its end whether they are capable or not. Meanwhile, the rest of civilization are living in a wasteland and are being treated differently. This part is just mentioned in words and being seen for a very short period of time from the movie, towards the end of it.

The execution of the film was brilliant, and the performances were just outstanding. The plot had several holes and subjects that weren't properly delt, but the final outcome was a movie about parenting experience, fears, anxieties and the complications with being parents in some different magnitude.

This movie was also about the race we are falling behind in - real world against Artificial intelligence. It got its fair share of different type of anxieties, towards a future that is really unclear, but well predicted by a lot of artists in the movies industry.

Elizabeth Olsen's performance was magnetizing. She ruled this movie with so much depth. Himesh Patel was great also, but both female characters were the main issue here. Finally, the biggest performance of all - Alicia Vikander. Wow. I can't stress enough how good she was and was worth watching just for her side of the plot and her performances' weight in the movie.

The movie ended kind of sloppy for me, at least, but it was worth each and every minute of my time and I cannot understand why it got such a low grade. Maybe for being a little bit misunderstood. Maybe the ones who didn't understand it need a re-watch.

Where are all of the reviews for this movie?! And why is it criminally underrated? Aren't we all tired of superhero popcorn flicks and ready for more movies with actual depth like this?

Now I know why Elizabeth Olsen has been playing in superhero crap roles lately. It's so that she could do this. "One for them, one for me" as they say. This is by far her best work. You can tell she worked so hard on this, physically, emotionally, she sold it. Apart from being the fittest and yet most feminine she's ever looked, she had this grace as her character that was so believable and not phoned in, especially her comedic moments like the first dining scene. She made it feel so real. Everyone did a fantastic job in this, especially Minnie Driver, who was a pleasant surprise with a great monologue, but Elizabeth outshined them all.

I'm not sure if I could watch this again with how intense it was, and knowing the ending. But this is one movie that should be seen by all. It's a smart, well written, emotionally nuanced and psychological thriller that should make you think. Yes it's Hollywood so they found a way to fit climate change in there, but it's also sci fi that feels meaningful, and actually possible rather than preachy. It actually left me wanting even more back story, though there was plenty.

Thank you to the writers, director and actors. Keep them coming.

I had heard nothing about this movie except for seeing it on a list of recommended recent sci-fi movies and then seeing the great ratings. I would say it's more "sci-fi ish"; at it's core though it is a fantastic dystopian psychological thriller. All 3 main actors are doing a phenomenal job here (I wish we'd see Alicia Vikander in more stuff!) and it kept me engaged from beginning to end, even the scenes that are less easy to watch. I absolutely recommend it!

The 3 leads are pretty good in their roles but story just didn't gel together for me. Very little is known of the dystopia, the cause, the effect the hope. The entire focus is really on the assessment of the couple's readiness for raising a child. A few sprinkles of insight into their work life doesn't do much to round out their characters. Virginia the assessor of the couple is quite erratic and throws every cliche of bad childish behavior to test the couple. This was mildly interesting but it grew tiresome.

I didn't expect the story to continue where I had thought it should have ended. Just delivered more dialogue that no longer mattered to me as I had already mentally checked out. I think the premise and the awkward start of the movie could have been a rating of 7. By 1/2 way through the movie lost its mojo and slid down to a 5.

Watch it if you like the lead actors but the story might grind on you.

The Assessment is a Sci-fi drama Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel as Mia and Aaryan, a couple who want a child in the future are given a 7 day test by an assessor,(Alicia Viklander) who make the test possible and if no slip ups occur a baby will be gifted, but the expected-to-be parents see that this is harder than they expected.

Given strength by strong acting and unique premise, The Assessment is something I didn't really expect plot-wise but I think it was made brilliantly. The film is set in a format of Days 1-7 and each one is as different and engaging as the other. Honestly I was expecting this to reuse sci-fi tropes from the past, but I got to say that this is so original and unexpected I think it was done super well! The way everything connects and what the couple have to do is portrayed so well to the point that this might be what the most likely cause of creating children will be in a effected world of climate change.

Performances do not disappoint, Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel were so good they probably could've been on their own with a entirely different plotline and it would have been just as captivating. But Alicia Viklander is also very good and to be honest, she's very good at the whole sci-fi genre and to see her here was a delight. Just everyone involved did their best and I really appreciate that with a film that doesn't really rely on CGI to be as creative as it is.

However, the film is graphic in some places in terms of sex and disturbing interactions from Alica Viklander's character acting like a child in a older woman's body gave me Poor Things vibes. But that doesn't matter really and it's essential to the plot but this is definitely for an older audience and I can definitely imagine this being an easy R or 15/18 in the UK if anyone is interested.

Overall, while some characters don't have much resolved plotlines the ones that do are created and performed so well it's hard to find anything bad about The Assessment. Definitely a one you must go and see when it comes out in mid 2025 I would highly recommend this amazing and creative piece of art when it hits cinemas.

Grade: A+

London Film Festival October 19th.