gdalesmith

Other reviews cover the plot holes, etc., in this movie, so no point in going over them again. Magellan's enigmatic and unsatisfying ending deserves added attention, however.

At the real risk of giving more credit than due, there is a possibility that York and Baird actually wanted the angry buzz that Magellan's ending has generated. Since nearly all low budget movies quickly fade into obscurity, they may have decided to end theirs in a way that would leave viewers wanting answers. Someone with deep pockets might decide a sequel would have enough potential to take a gamble.

Something similar happens often on YouTube, when a group produces a science fiction short to showcase their screenwriting and technical talents in what is effectively a teaser for a full length movie, in hopes that a backer will be intrigued enough to finance it.

It's ironic that this movie gets a 7 rating from someone who agrees with many criticisms of other reviewers. Cosmos does have WAY too long a run time. At least 30 minutes could easily have been shaved off, while still telling a good story. Plot holes aplenty, like why leave a car's headlights on all night while it's simply parked? The technique of using subtle facial expressions to supplement what a viewer learns via dialogue about the characters and background is fine up to a point. After that watching three guys stare at each other gets wearisome.

On the plus side, all three actors did a great job fleshing out their characters, especially when considering fully half the movie has them sitting in a car. There were a couple of scares, and the directors used background music and lighting to great effect (that headlights thing notwithstanding). All in all, Cosmos is worth watching to the end, which automatically makes it better than well over half the small budget movies being made these days.