Plot: What’s it about?
When I watch a movie these days, I often think about the stars in the given film. Movies are an industry that allow an actor to work well into their 80’s and even 90’s. But…they all had to come from somewhere. Case in point, I popped in the disc for Mickey 17, the follow-up to the Academy Award winning Parasite and my mind started to wonder. We’ve got a star-studded cast with Robert Pattinson leading the way, but also Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette. Pattinson got his start (or at least his notoriety) in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. He could have gone the way that other Potter stars did, but instead he was then cast as Edward in the Twilight films. He’s made quite a nice life for himself in the two decades since, perhaps even eclipsing (pardon the pun, Twilight fans) that of Daniel Radcliffe or Emma Watson. Is this a one-man show or is Pattinson all he’s cracked up to be?
We meet “Mickey” (Robert Pattinson), an “expendable” who assists in the colonization of a planet far away from Earth. Set a few decades in the future his job is, simply, to die – literally. This ranges from airborne viruses to things far different all in the name of science so that others can learn. Each time he dies, a new “copy” of him is made only to have the process repeat. During one iteration, the (you guessed it) 17th, Mickey is mistaken for dead after falling down a crevasse. He’s not. He makes his way back to the spaceship only to learn that his successor has already been made (obviously, also played by Pattinson). Doubles are forbidden here and, therefore, both versions are in trouble. There are some other nuances to the plot with a romance between the “Mickey’s” for Nashua (Naomi Ackles) as well as a politician (Mark Ruffalo) and his wife (Toni Collette) who’s got a cult following (sound familiar?) who also have a hand in running things.
There’s really nowhere to go but down once you’ve helmed a Best Picture winner. And as much as I’ve enjoyed Bong Joon Ho’s films (namely, The Host and Snowpiercer) this one had a lot going for it, but I felt that it ultimately fell a bit flat. There’s no shortage of talent in the cast and I did like the premise, it was eerily reminiscent of other films of the genre like Groundhog Day and Live.Die.Repeat, but it didn’t quite deliver as those did. It tried to go too many directions and in doing so, lost the audience. And at nearly 140 minutes, it’s an investment of one’s time so when taking nearly two and a half hours to tell a story, it needs to be done right. While not overly “bad”, I just felt this one could have been better. For true fans of the genre or the director – check it out, otherwise give it a pass.
Video: How’s it look?
I’ve long been a fan of Bong Joon Ho’s films and each has a very unique visual style. With The Host, we had more of a manga “comic” vibe contrasted with the stark (and dark) palette used for Snowpiercer and the somewhat claustrophobic effect for Parasite. Suffice it to say that I was curious as to how this one would look. As it turns out, it’s pristine. The images are crystal clear with nothing that might get in the way of the visuals. It’s a different look, to be sure, but the 1.85:1 HEVC 4K image handles every curve that was thrown. Yes, it’s a new movie, so we’re immediately going to expect a lot, but this one is spot on.
Audio: How’s it sound?
If ever there was a doubt that the Dolby Atmos track would suffer – let me put that to bed right now. This rocks. While not the absolute best-sounding film I’ve heard recently, it’s right up there. All of my speakers were on point during the viewing and the LFE have plenty of time to flex their muscle. Vocals are pitch perfect and rock solid. It’s a great-sounding track that’s sure to satisfy.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Behind the Lens: Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 – Essentially a “Making of…” featurette with the main stars of the film all lauding praise on the director and his latest work. We get some behind the scenes segments as well as a general plot outline.
- Mickey 17: A World Reimagined – A bit more interesting is the vision of the film itself. Say what you will about the film, but we all know that the director can create some pretty breathtaking images. This is a testament to that.
- The Faces of Niflheim – We get a look at some of the different cast members in the movie, some of the more difficult aspects that Pattinson (and his characters) faced and the like.
The Bottom Line
Though it failed to ignite at the box office (it essentially broke even) and didn’t quite reach the critical acclaim of Parasite, Mickey 17 is entertaining – just not really my cup of tea. But there are those that love it and for them, it’s got a reference-quality soundtrack along with pristine visuals.
