Movie Breakdown: I.S.S.
Pre-Screening Stance:
I.S.S. has some noteworthy names attached to it – Gabriela Cowperthwaite directed Blackfish, and the cast includes Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., and Pilou Asbæk. Weirdly though, I don’t feel like I’ve come across any chatter about the movie, which may not be a great sign.
Post-Screening Ramble:
I know it’s a bit lazy to say something like “well, it’s a movie” but that really is the best way to describe I.S.S. This isn’t to say it’s bad, it’s more that it just doesn’t have that special something to push it over the top. The story, which is stretched over roughly an hour and a half, involves a group of astronauts and cosmonauts that are floating around and working on the International Space Station. One day, the Earth catches on fire (i.e. the United States and Russia finally blow everyone up while blowing one another up) and then each team receives a message that they need to eliminate the other party and take control of the station. Now here’s where you’d think that I.S.S. would become a wildly tense ride, but it never really spins up to an edge-of-your-seat type level, and I think it’s because the movie just doesn’t have enough meat on its bones. The conflict gets underway almost immediately, so you’re not given any time to get to know the characters, which means that their actions have no context. Am I supposed to be surprised that this person or that one did something good or bad? No idea! The lack of time given to settle into the movie also results in an entirely indifferent feeling whenever something happens to its characters. Should I be thrilled or bummed about that person’s survival or demise? No idea! It’s unfortunate, really, because the character establishment/development issues totally hamstring what’s an otherwise great premise.
I.S.S. isn’t terrible but it’s one you can wait to watch at home. It hits theaters today, January 19.
One Last Thought:
John Gallagher Jr.’s character sleeps with his eyes open and I found that to be more unsettling than the world catching on fire.
