The Midnight Sky is directed by George Clooney and premiered on Netflix at the end of 2020. The 59-year-old actor has not only taken on the role of director but also the lead role in the film.
Starting with the text “three weeks after the event,” the viewer is intrigued about the futuristic world in which The Midnight Sky unfolds. In the year 2049, something has happened that has rendered Earth uninhabitable. Meanwhile, NASA has launched a mission into space to investigate a theory about the habitability of a moon around Jupiter.
Unanswered Questions
The story, in short, already arouses the viewer’s curiosity. Multiple questions arise immediately, hoping they will be answered gradually. Unfortunately, The Midnight Sky doesn’t address all the questions, and the viewer’s curiosity fades away.
With a cast including George Clooney, Felicity Jones, and David Oyelowo, the film features prominent names. The performances are indeed top-notch. However, the pacing and storyline(s) weigh heavily when watching this film. Additionally, the ‘plot twist’ midway can already be predicted, hinting at what will be revealed at the end. This makes Clooney’s film not particularly enticing for a second sci-fi film under his direction.
What exactly was ‘the event’? Why is Earth uninhabitable? What about the astronauts, what’s their fate? These are some of the questions that remain unanswered. The first one, in particular, is crucial to understanding the significance of the story. Additionally, the transitions between scenes at the North Pole, where Clooney’s character Augustine is located, and on the Aether spaceship, which is on its way back from Jupiter’s moon K-23 to Earth, are poorly executed.
Not a Sci-Fi Canon
In terms of sci-fi visuals, the film does present beautiful images. Planet K-23 consists of a grassy plain overlooking an orange sky reflected from Jupiter, which is clearly visible from K-23. The scenes from the spaceship are on par with other sci-fi films.
Overall, The Midnight Sky’s plot promises a good dystopian sci-fi film but unfortunately falls short in execution. Despite the film’s shortcomings, it has been viewed by 72 million households. The performances and artistic space visuals elevate the film, but George Clooney’s The Midnight Sky is unlikely to find a place in the canon of sci-fi fans.
The Midnight Sky (2020)
Na een wereldramp probeert een eenzame wetenschapper op de Noordpool contact te leggen met een groep astronauten om hen te waarschuwen niet naar de aarde terug te keren.
Cast: George Clooney, Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo, e.a.
Regisseur: George Clooney
Studio: Netflix
