the fresh films reviews

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The Discovery (2017)

Director:
Charlie McDowell
COUNTRY
USA/UK
GENRE
Sci-Fi/Romance
NORWEGIAN TITLE
The Discovery
RUNNING TIME
102 minutes
Producer:
Alex Orlovsky
James D. Stern
Screenwriter:
Justin Lader
Charlie McDowell


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Isla Rooney Mara ½
Will Harbor Jason Segel
Toby Harbor Jesse Plemons
Lacey Riley Keough
Thomas Harbor Robert Redford
Cooper Ron Canada
Interviewer Mary Steenburgen

 

Review

This film opens with an inventive and thought-provoking premise with potential for deep existential discussions and powerful drama: Scientist Robert Redford claims to have found neurological evidence for an afterlife, something which sparks a suicide epidemic across the world. And although writer/director Charlie McDowell manages to keep both these potentials smouldering throughout the film, he admits about halfway through that he really doesn't have that much new to say or propose, instead resorting to a mushy romance which Rooney Mara and Jason Segel never are close to give the necessary weight or chemistry. Besides, their dull characters don't deserve film happiness. It's Robert Redford's and Jesse Plemons' characters who are the most interesting here (the latter building effectively on Philip Seymour Hoffman's precious legacy), but their screen-time are pushed aside to make room for said romance.

Copyright © 10.8.2017 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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