A great movie for our time - heartfelt, pointed, and engrossing
I am a lover of great cinema - Vertigo, Imitation of Life (1959), Tokyo Story, and other classics, and I found that Don't Look Up captured so much of both human nature and the needs of society and survival at this time, that I would call it a great film, though not so much as an "art" piece but rather as a direct, heartfelt wakeup call to humanity. The movie left me moved and inspired my better self, and that is one way to judge the value of a film.
Rather than using straw men or caricatures, the film shows people of some complexity, but also each person with their own take on how to live life when the planet is under threat. Characters like the singer played by Ariana Grande, and of course the two leading scientists (DiCaprio and Lawrence) during the course of the film have a variety of reactions to the crisis, and all seem to reflect the multiple personas each of us can take own, especially in times of stress and threat.
In other words, this is not simply a political tract in film form, but shows the human nature underlying each of the major characters.
As far as the actual crisis, a comet heading directly towards Earth, it is a hyperbolic and clear reference to climate change, and perhaps to the larger issue of humanity living as if the planet, species, and nature, and finally human beings, are indestructible. Climate change may not be a threat of immediate extinction, but due to its threat to completely disrupt and destabilize the structures of civilizations. It seems to me to be appropriate to reference climate change through the metaphor of a massive comet heading towards the planet.
Last, and not least, I appreciate the moments of intense emotion at key moments throughout the film. The usual fare of movies are diversion of one form or another. Like desserts, we cannot live on them. We can, however, find sustenance in films that touch on our deeper nature. Kudos to all those involved with Don't Look Up.
Rather than using straw men or caricatures, the film shows people of some complexity, but also each person with their own take on how to live life when the planet is under threat. Characters like the singer played by Ariana Grande, and of course the two leading scientists (DiCaprio and Lawrence) during the course of the film have a variety of reactions to the crisis, and all seem to reflect the multiple personas each of us can take own, especially in times of stress and threat.
In other words, this is not simply a political tract in film form, but shows the human nature underlying each of the major characters.
As far as the actual crisis, a comet heading directly towards Earth, it is a hyperbolic and clear reference to climate change, and perhaps to the larger issue of humanity living as if the planet, species, and nature, and finally human beings, are indestructible. Climate change may not be a threat of immediate extinction, but due to its threat to completely disrupt and destabilize the structures of civilizations. It seems to me to be appropriate to reference climate change through the metaphor of a massive comet heading towards the planet.
Last, and not least, I appreciate the moments of intense emotion at key moments throughout the film. The usual fare of movies are diversion of one form or another. Like desserts, we cannot live on them. We can, however, find sustenance in films that touch on our deeper nature. Kudos to all those involved with Don't Look Up.
- PlanetThoughts
- Jan 1, 2022