ANOTHER EARTH

    SUMMARY

Rhoda is a bright but reckless young woman accepted into a prestigious astrophysics program.  John is a brilliant composer, who has just reached the pinnacle of his profession. On the eve of the discovery of a duplicate Earth, tragedy strikes and the lives of these strangers become irrevocably intertwined. Estranged from the world and the selves they once knew, the two outsiders form an unlikely connection and reawaken to life. But when one is presented with the opportunity to travel to the other Earth and embrace an alternative reality, which new life will they choose? A thought-provoking, sci-fi fantasy that was a winner at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

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DAVE GRIFFITHS'S ANOTHER EARTH REVIEW:

ANOTHER EARTH!!! No you probably haven’t heard of it, after all it is being released in Australia with little or no fuss as it doesn’t feature an A List cast and was directed by a household name. But this is the little film that could! The way this film intertwines sci-fi and drama is a stroke of genius and with an ending that leaves you asking a world of questions, it’s a film I can’t wait to see again.

The films begins on the night that scientists discover another planet that they nickname Earth. Party girl, Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling – Sound Of My Voice, TV’S Community) is driving home, drunk, and while she stares at Earth 2 she takes her eyes off the road long enough to run into a car being driven by composer, John Burroughs (William Mapother – Edwin Boyd, A Warrior’s Heart). The accident results in the death of John’s wife and son and sees Rhoda sent to prison for four years. Upon, her release she discovers that there are plans to send people to Earth 2 (as they have discovered it has life on it) and while she enters the competition she also decides she must apologise to John and try to settle back into life.

Screenwriter/director, Mike Cahill (Boxers & Ballerinas) has created an absolute gem of a film. In a time of remakes and reboots an original film like this just stands out so much. So, well written is the script that you feel for Rhoda despite seeing the accident in which she kills John’s family. The scene of Rhoda standing over the body of the boy will stick with me for such a long time.

Cahill proves himself as a top writer by effortlessly mixing drama and sci-fi together. He seems to have a real handle on the Earth 2 side of the story while the drama and suspense he creates throughout the film leaves the audience breathless… especially when Rhoda first goes to visit John. Cahill also doesn’t fall into the trap of doing a predictable Hollywood ending; the closing scene will have you asking more questions than it answers, but it works… let’s just hope that if a sequel is written its Cahill that pens it.

The other thing that strikes you while watching Another Earth is how good Brit Marling is in the role of Rhoda. Her performance is nothing short of brilliant, she captivates you as she tackles a confronting dramatic role that must have left her drained. It’s an outside chance but this is the kind of role that the Oscar voters should be looking at. Marling is a true sensation and I expect to see big things from her in the future. I also shouldn’t dismiss William Mapother whose on-screen chemistry with Marling takes the film to a whole different level.

Another Earth is a film that shouldn’t be missed. Spectacular visuals (every shot of Earth 2 looks amazing), some of the best acting performances you are ever likely to see and one of the scripts of the year result in a film that is one of the best to surface this year. The film is edgy and alternative in style but gets its great story through and leaves the audience wanting more. I can’t recommend this film highly enough.

RATING:- *****   (out of 5)

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