Swan Song

This film has a Jordan Peele/Black Mirror feel to it. The main plot concept is decidedly unsettling and spooky - its a futuristic sci-fi film set on earth, with a moderate use of CGI. It's quite emotive and somewhat thought provoking. I suppose it reminded me a little of Ex Machina. It's partly a film about memories - questioning their validity, somewhat, I suppose. Authenticity vs artificiality. Suffice to say, it's very much a 'what if?' film. I thought Glenn Close gave a good performance.

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Uniquely poignant “what if” drama that benefits greatly from a magnificent lead performance by Mahershala Ali. I personally think the back-half gets a little single-minded, but the first half is beautifully nuanced, delicately written, and painfully heart-aching.

watchable

*Mild spoilers* Subtle and subdued, but immensely moving, sci-fi is that rare example of using a somewhat far-out premise to consider and contemplate the human condition, without resorting to a diabolical "gotcha" twist to drive home its message; focusing on the human emotions and implications right through to its poignant and bittersweet finale, this is really wonderful stuff, helped by Ali's convincing (and mesmerising) lead, with typically fine support work from Close, Harris and Awkwafina.

Ali wants to be Will Smith and star in a post-racial sci-fi movie where love conquers all. However the director is making a fanboy indie like Ex Machina--with cool sets and electronic music. So things stumble by mixing family melodrama & Missing Lover camera shot flashbacks. Also, the concept misses some exposition: I thought of one line that could've explained the secretive process and elevated the story to GATTACA levels. Still, Ali's performance wonderfully wrestles with the ethical problem.