Rated PG-13 (Disturbing Images, some
Sexuality, Nudity and Brief Drug Use)
Running Time: 1 Hour & 32 Minutes
Cast:
Brit Marling-Rhoda Williams
William Mapother-John Burroughs
Jordan Baker-Kim Williams
Flint Beverage-Robert Williams
Robin Taylor-Jeff Williams
Kumar Pallana-Purdeep
Meggan Lennon-Maya Burroughs
AJ Diana-John's Son
Diane Ciesla-Dr. Joan Tallis
Directed by Mike Cahill
 |
| "Another Earth," one of the most unique films of 2011. |
At any given point in our lives, we often
take a step back and reflect, to question the choices and mistakes we’ve made.
If given a second chance to correct a wrong, a person would take it. Now
imagine this scenario: what if you could meet a literal mirror of yourself, a
perfect duplicate in every way. What would you ask ‘yourself?’ Would this same
person have made the same choices, the same mistakes you’ve made or would this
person have taken a different fork in the road? Mike Cahill’s “Another Earth”
ponders this very question and its little films like these that remind me why
I’m such a big fan of science fiction. Yes, science fiction can entertain but
they should always ask questions, present scenarios in which we are confronted
about our place in the universe. Instead, we get a steaming pile of crap like
Michael Bay’s “Transformers” franchise which makes millions of dollars but is
bereft of any sense of intelligence. The worse thing is that such films assume
you’re not smart enough to discover how inane it all is and that in itself is
an insult to the audience. “Another Earth” may be rough around the edges and
come off as contrived at certain points but its philosophical musings on second
chances make this film worth experiencing, especially for Brit Marling’s honest
and moving performance.
Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling) is a recently graduated
high school student who has just been accepted to MIT (Massachusetts Institute
of Technology). She celebrates at a bar with her friends and gets into her car
despite being drunk. As she drives home, she hears a radio broadcast about
another planet that has been recently discovered and looks to be able to
sustain life like Earth. Rhoda leans out of the car window to get a better look
but unknowingly slams her vehicle into another. The wife and son are killed
instantly but the father, Yale music professor John Burroughs (William
Mapother) becomes trapped in a coma. Rhoda is sent to prison for four years and
when released, avoids contact with everyone. With her dreams broken, she takes
a janitorial position at her old high school. Upon learning that Burroughs has
come out of his coma, Rhoda follows him home in an attempt to apologize but
backs out at the last minute, lying to him that she works for a cleaning
service and offers him a free trial. As Rhoda’s presence allows John to begin
to pick up the pieces of his life and move on, the two fall in love. Meanwhile,
the planet discovered four years ago appears to be another Earth, a perfect
duplicate of our world in every way. An eccentric, billionaire futurist decides
to finance a trip to ‘Earth 2’ and holds an essay contest where the winner can
earn a seat on the space shuttle. Rhoda decides to enter and wonders whether
her mirror self made the same choices and mistakes she did or took a different
path.
The first thing I would like to address is, yes, the idea of a planetary
object in close proximity to Earth as depicted in the film would prove
catastrophic for both worlds but this is science fiction so a little suspension
of disbelief isn’t a big deal to ask of its audience. While it is both science
fiction and drama, emphasis is placed on the latter and questions about Earth 2
are always on the peripheral. In fact, despite the literal appearance of a
second Earth, it really serves as a metaphor. Always looming in the background
in every scene, Earth 2 is an idea, a promise of a possible better life. The
overarching theme of Gene Roddenberry’s “Star Trek” has always been the
exploration of the cosmos—that of the unknown and the main characters are often
confronted by the nature of their own limitations despite the advanced
technology they wield. Earth 2 represents the unknown but it is not an
exploration of that world but of one’s self, one’s soul. Rhoda is crushed by
the guilt of her careless and irresponsible actions (although wearing a hooded
sweatshirt for much of the film is a bit much) and confronts John as a possible
way of redemption. That the two fall in love because they are lost souls feels
both appropriate and somewhat contrived. Its symbolism is sometimes too blatant
(Rhoda is effectively ‘cleaning up’ John’s life) but it works given the film’s
quiet, contemplative nature. I read a review where the critic felt that Rhoda
is cruel to accept John’s love but I do not see it that way; I see it as her
being human. Anyone can apologize but to actually mean it is hard. The film can
also be emotionally draining with its morose tone but given the subject matter,
levity might be out of place. “Another Earth” wears its low-budget roots as a
badge of honor with its handheld camera movements and focus on extreme
close-ups, exhibiting a sort of rawness in its proceedings despite being rough
around the edges. Certain plot contrivances call attention to themselves. At
one point, John discovers that his checks haven’t been cashed and that the
cleaning service Rhoda works for has never heard of her, which should raise
warning bells but he writes it off as nothing. The ending is what will inspire
fierce debate with its abruptness that recalls Christopher Nolan’s “Inception.”
To reveal my thoughts on it would mean spoilers so this is something you’ll
have to experience yourselves.
One of the reasons I found “Another Earth”
riveting is the performances. William Mapother (best known as Ethan Rom on
“Lost”) is definitely the more experienced as his character, John, is unable to
let go and trapped in his own grief. However, Brit Marling (who served as
co-writer and producer) is the one that makes a lasting impression. She’s very
pretty and the film has her wear little to no makeup. I suspect that what makes
her appealing is that she appears very ‘normal,’ unlike the plastic women
(Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, anyone?) that Hollywood often glamorizes. Marling
is able to convey that sense of longing pain Rhoda feels and while her performance is not as
polished since she’s a novice, it still lends a feeling of believability when much of
what she feels is left unsaid. Her scenes with Mapother, such as playing a Wii
game with him, display a sort of quiet, sweet charm. Marling has a degree in
economics so it’s strange that she’s writing and acting but then again, life
takes us to very strange places.
“Another Earth” had its world premiere during the
2011 Sundance Film Festival in January and was picked up for distribution by
Fox Searchlight Pictures. It won the Alfred P. Sloan Prize and Variety reports
that ‘it received a standing ovation after the screening and strong word-of-mouth from buyers and festgoers.’ The film had a limited release beginning July
22, 2011 in only two theaters in New York City, one of them the Landmark
Sunshine. Critical reception has been mixed with 62% on Rotten Tomatoes so it
seems like it’s more of a ‘love it or hate it’ type of film. The number of people
viewing the film was pretty small, only about 20 to 25 people. I do not know
whether it will expand to more theaters but “Another Earth” is unlikely to find
much love among mainstream audiences. Remember Steven Soderbergh’s “Solaris”?
It’s another science fiction film that was less about the fiction and more about
exploring the human condition and audiences hated it because it wasn’t what
they expected it to be. “Another Earth” isn’t without flaws; the plot can be
contrived at times and it seems almost self-aware of its independent status but
the premise is an ambitious one and it deserves praise for thinking outside of
the box in its exploration of second chances. If you’re turned off by the
multitude of summer blockbusters and if you can look past the hokey science,
“Another Earth” comes highly recommended.
Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5
“Within our lifetime, we have marveled and
aspired to look at smaller and smaller things. Astronomers have looked further
and further though the dark night sky, back in time and out in space. But maybe
the most mysterious of all is neither the small nor the large—it’s us…up close.
Could we even recognize ourselves and if we did, would we know ourselves? What
would we say to ourselves? What would we learn from ourselves? What would we
really like to see if we can stand outside ourselves…and look at us?”
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