Don't Look Up (B or 3/4 stars)
Writer/director Adam McKay (The Big Short, Vice) has assembled an all-star cast for 'Don't Look Up', a black comedy that satires the dismal current state of affairs in America ... and what may become of it. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Dr. Randall Mindy, a lovably geeky Michigan State astronomer whose gifted doctoral student, Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), discovers a massive comet the size of Mount Everest that is barreling toward Earth in 6 months to wipe out humanity. When they reach out to NASA, they are immediately flown to D.C. where they are met by the Planetary Defense Coordination Office's Dr. Teddy Oglethorpe (Rob Morgan), who realizes the dire importance of Kate's discovery ... that it will cause extinction.
The 3 of them are hoping to meet with Pres. Orlean (Meryl Streep), who is busy trying to get one of her donors appointed to the Supreme Court. When Randall, Kate & Dr. Oglethorpe eventually get their moment with Orlean, her ignorant, entitled son - and Chief of Staff {eye roll} - Jason (Jonah Hill), immediately dismisses the end-of-the-world truth they face. He'd rather the science be checked by Ivy League astronomers. Orlean determines that it is too close to the midterms, so when she coins the term "sit tight & assess", Randall, Kate & Oglethorpe quickly realize that they have to go rogue to inform the public. The most popular show on TV, "The Daily Rip", hosted by perky Brie & upbeat Jack (Cate Blanchett, Tyler Perry), is their 1st stop.
Unfortunately, non-plussed Brie & Jack are more concerned about the break-up of music stars Riley Bina & DJ Chello (Ariana Grande, Scott Mescudi) than they are about the imminent destruction of the planet. The hosts don't take the warning seriously either, although Brie can't keep her hands off of married Randall {a tryst ensues}. Pres. Orlean & tech mogul Peter Isherwell (Mark Rylance) eventually take things seriously & devise two schemes: 1) send gung-ho patriot Benedict Drask (Ron Perlman) into space to blow up the comet. Or 2) it is thereafter determined that the comet can be mined for its precious resources. With things looking bleaker & bleaker, Randall & Kate go nutty trying to warn the world, all while she finds solace in the arms of skateboarder, Yule (Timothee Chalamet). Everything hinges on whether the comet can be blasted to smithereens before contact. Chaos ensues.
Adam McKay's doomsday satire is on-the-nose, obvious in its allegories, & lacks cinematic verve. It's also darkly humorous, terrifying, & entertaining - not because of the script - but for the all-star cast giving it their all. McKay's The Big Short is probably the better film, but I found that one too smug. And I liked the preposterous Vice more than others. But this film here is probably my "fave" of the three; despite my issues with its heavy-handed tone. As a piece of entertainment, despite those issues {including a long run time}, I admire its desperate plea for change in the face of denial & ignorance.
In Don't Look Up's alternate existence {to our world as we know it}, it is easy to recognize the characters & situations that hit TOO close to home. Meryl Streep plays a narcissistic, condescending president who would dismiss something like a comet, or climate change, or Covid; sound familiar? Her top aide is her spoiled, odious child, played here by Jonah Hill; sound familiar? Ariana Grande plays an exaggerated version of herself; a vapid pop star with legions of fans. Her pleading song "Just Look Up" is catchy, if ridiculous. Leo DiCaprio is excellent as the anxiety-ridden, but brilliant, SANE scientist; Dr. Fauci, much? Also solid is Jennifer Lawrence, whose Kate is the most relatable character; her & Randall's frustration at trying to convince people of the obvious, is palpable. Mark Rylance is perfect as the smarmy, aloof billionaire mogul; Steve Jobs, Elon Musk-ish. Cate Blanchett steals scenes as the sexy, bleach-blonde co-anchor who hungers for Leo. And while Timothee Chalamet brings the funny as a stoner skateboarder, his dinner table prayer near the end took me by emotional surprise. The cast excels.
McKay tackles American politics, the media, the public's obsession with star culture, science denialism, big-tech greed, selfish individualism, the inability to communicate 'truths', & how people are too foolish to come together, even if their lives depend on it. I wish his film were more sophisticated -- Dr. Strangelove, this is not. But again, the cast got me through. They entertain while McKay preaches to his choir. A lot of people will watch this, so if it creates any kind of thought-provoking conversation ... so be it. I was horrified, intermittently amused {a running joke about "free" White House snacks is great}, and I shook my head in all-too-familiar, disgusted recognition about the sad the state of our world. 'DLU' is effective, despite its problems.
The 3 of them are hoping to meet with Pres. Orlean (Meryl Streep), who is busy trying to get one of her donors appointed to the Supreme Court. When Randall, Kate & Dr. Oglethorpe eventually get their moment with Orlean, her ignorant, entitled son - and Chief of Staff {eye roll} - Jason (Jonah Hill), immediately dismisses the end-of-the-world truth they face. He'd rather the science be checked by Ivy League astronomers. Orlean determines that it is too close to the midterms, so when she coins the term "sit tight & assess", Randall, Kate & Oglethorpe quickly realize that they have to go rogue to inform the public. The most popular show on TV, "The Daily Rip", hosted by perky Brie & upbeat Jack (Cate Blanchett, Tyler Perry), is their 1st stop.
Unfortunately, non-plussed Brie & Jack are more concerned about the break-up of music stars Riley Bina & DJ Chello (Ariana Grande, Scott Mescudi) than they are about the imminent destruction of the planet. The hosts don't take the warning seriously either, although Brie can't keep her hands off of married Randall {a tryst ensues}. Pres. Orlean & tech mogul Peter Isherwell (Mark Rylance) eventually take things seriously & devise two schemes: 1) send gung-ho patriot Benedict Drask (Ron Perlman) into space to blow up the comet. Or 2) it is thereafter determined that the comet can be mined for its precious resources. With things looking bleaker & bleaker, Randall & Kate go nutty trying to warn the world, all while she finds solace in the arms of skateboarder, Yule (Timothee Chalamet). Everything hinges on whether the comet can be blasted to smithereens before contact. Chaos ensues.
Adam McKay's doomsday satire is on-the-nose, obvious in its allegories, & lacks cinematic verve. It's also darkly humorous, terrifying, & entertaining - not because of the script - but for the all-star cast giving it their all. McKay's The Big Short is probably the better film, but I found that one too smug. And I liked the preposterous Vice more than others. But this film here is probably my "fave" of the three; despite my issues with its heavy-handed tone. As a piece of entertainment, despite those issues {including a long run time}, I admire its desperate plea for change in the face of denial & ignorance.
In Don't Look Up's alternate existence {to our world as we know it}, it is easy to recognize the characters & situations that hit TOO close to home. Meryl Streep plays a narcissistic, condescending president who would dismiss something like a comet, or climate change, or Covid; sound familiar? Her top aide is her spoiled, odious child, played here by Jonah Hill; sound familiar? Ariana Grande plays an exaggerated version of herself; a vapid pop star with legions of fans. Her pleading song "Just Look Up" is catchy, if ridiculous. Leo DiCaprio is excellent as the anxiety-ridden, but brilliant, SANE scientist; Dr. Fauci, much? Also solid is Jennifer Lawrence, whose Kate is the most relatable character; her & Randall's frustration at trying to convince people of the obvious, is palpable. Mark Rylance is perfect as the smarmy, aloof billionaire mogul; Steve Jobs, Elon Musk-ish. Cate Blanchett steals scenes as the sexy, bleach-blonde co-anchor who hungers for Leo. And while Timothee Chalamet brings the funny as a stoner skateboarder, his dinner table prayer near the end took me by emotional surprise. The cast excels.
McKay tackles American politics, the media, the public's obsession with star culture, science denialism, big-tech greed, selfish individualism, the inability to communicate 'truths', & how people are too foolish to come together, even if their lives depend on it. I wish his film were more sophisticated -- Dr. Strangelove, this is not. But again, the cast got me through. They entertain while McKay preaches to his choir. A lot of people will watch this, so if it creates any kind of thought-provoking conversation ... so be it. I was horrified, intermittently amused {a running joke about "free" White House snacks is great}, and I shook my head in all-too-familiar, disgusted recognition about the sad the state of our world. 'DLU' is effective, despite its problems.