The Midnight Sky (2020)
PG-13 ‧ Science Fiction ‧ 1h 58m
Screenplay by Mark L Smith 
Based on a book by Lily Brooks-Dalton
Directed by ‎George Clooney

THE CAST

George Clooney, Felicity Jones
David Oyelowo
Tiffany Boone
Demián Bichir
Kyle Chandler
Caoilinn Springall

THE STORY

It stars Clooney as a scientist who must venture through the Arctic Circle to warn off a returning spaceship following a global catastrophe.

THE REVIEW

George Clooney stars in and directs this lovely science fiction film about Scientist Augustine Lofthouse, whose life mission to find habitable planets for humanity finds great irony when Earth faces a sudden catastrophe just as a spacecraft is returning from Jupiter’s moon to tell the world that it is habitable. 

The film follows Lofthouse who has stayed behind at his base while others fled for safety because he is dying from an unknown-to-us disease and so that he can contact the ship heading back to Earth which doesn’t know of the planet’s sudden fate. Lofthouse then faces off against the horrible arctic weather, which is now even worse because of the Earth’s changing condition, as he attempts to reach another base with a stronger antenna that may reach the space travellers.  

The film has some surprises, half of which are predictable, as it splits its time between the events in the ship returning home and the events on Earth with Dr. Lofthouse. Though the time on Earth is often filled with flashbacks. The jumping between locations and times, while interesting, becomes distracting. It almost feel like the film doesn’t know which story it wants to tell and doesn’t have an opportunity to dive into each story too much. 

The film is saved by some fine performances by George Cloony and Felicity Jones who plays a pregnant astronaut and communications specialist. 

It’s a fine film. It’s just that. It is enjoyable though it may not take your breath away, though it’s special effects might, but being a Netflix original, we never would have had the opportunity to see it on the big screen.

I did enjoy watching a science fiction film where the focus was on the people and not the special effects or the action. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a character driven scifi film.

Listen to full review at blackandahalf.com/episode-147-tiny-toe-prints/

THE BEST

Three BEST things about the film

1. George Clooney’s mostly solo performance scenes.

2. Great job of keeping up the mystery while being vague.

3. Good job of staying within the realm of Science Fiction without getting into fantasy

THE WORST

The three WORST things about the Film

1. Setup was a little obvious.
2. No opportunity for growth of Cloony’s character. 
3. Movie couldn’t decide whether it should be in space or not. 

THE LESSON

You will do anything for family. 

THE FINAL WORD

This scifi film may not be out of the world but it is at least worth a viewing. 

THE VERDICT 
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

The Midnight Sky gets a Like It.

A New York Christmas Wedding (2020)
TV-MA ‧ Drama/Romance ‧ 2h 12m
Written by Otoja Abit
Directed by ‎Otoja Abit

THE CAST

 Chris Noth, Nia Fairweather, Chris Trousdale

THE STORY

(In their own words) As her Christmas Eve wedding draws near, Jennifer is visited by an angel and shown what could have been if she hadn’t denied her true feelings for her childhood best friend.

THE REVIEW

The search for a new modern Christmas movie to add to my rotation was what brought me to watch A New York Christmas Wedding. The preview clip showed a lot of promise, a Black couple, a guardian angel, a past to re-examine…..ooh! Was this going to be a modern female version of It’s A Wonderful Life. Alas, it may have a spark of inspiration from the Jimmy Stewart Classic, but it certainly isn’t going to be a classic that the masses will enjoy.  

Jennifer is ready to marry a man that she loves. Kind of. In the back of her head is doubt about the life she could have had. Fate decides to let her take a life she would have been like if she had followed her heart and been brave enough to tell her female friend how she really felt about her. 

What follows is a lackluster holiday tale of regret and bad choices, and the film tries really hard, too hard to make an emotional impact with the audience. You know what it’s like when someone tries to hard to get you to like them? That’s this in film form.  

THE BEST

Three BEST things about the film

1. Multicultural cast. 

2. Kind of a modern twist on It’s A Wonderful Life

3. It’s a Christmas film that has more to do with 

THE WORST

The three WORST things about the Film

1. The whole thing feels low budget.
2. The lack of stakes at the end for her “choice.”
3. Lots of the story is forced. 

THE LESSON

If you don’t follow your heart, you’ll never be fully at peace. 

THE FINAL WORD

While it is kind of a nice story, it is kind of forgettable and doesn’t offer anything new to the Cinemark world.  

THE VERDICT 
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

A New York Christmas Wedding gets a LOSE IT.