Imagine dying, being resurrected, and dying again all for the sake of science. Whether it be getting left behind in the void of space or injected with a deadly virus, where the gift of endless opportunities at the perfect existence exists, so does punishment.
“Mickey 17” explores this fascinating concept in an immersive sci-fi comedy. The film begins after Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) becomes a disposable employee, aka an Expendable, to help the human race survive any threat on the colonized ice planet of Niflheim. Now, for context, I went into this film with a completely open mind as I never read the book it was based on (“Mickey7” by Edward Ashton), nor did I try to predict the story the director Bong Joon-ho (Parasite, Snowpiercer) would attempt to tell. Let’s just say I was pleasantly surprised the first time, or should I say the seventeenth time, Mickey’s cloned body slid out a high-tech machine to live another day. The film follows Mickey 17 as he realizes the unbearable job he signed up for and how he ultimately rebels against the system.
My favorite thing about this film was how mind bending the story was. I’m not used to seeing experimental and outlandish concepts anymore. “Interstellar” and “Parasite” are some of the only examples of recent films that had comparable creativity. This film kept my eyes glued to the screen, wondering what was coming next the entire time, which made it much more captivating, especially in a surround sound theater.
One of the things I love to do when I watch films is to really grasp the cinematography and scale of the production. “Mickey 17” did sci-fi justice, with how meticulous the shots and production design were. From the complex interior of the spacecraft to the arrival of an alien race, it truly felt like I was simultaneously getting the vast expanse of space and the grounded feeling of the planet.
I cannot even begin to express my love for Robert Pattinson in the role of Mickey, simply because he is such a compelling, multifaceted actor. His portrayals of the different clones of the character showcased how personal and unique each version was. Pattinson’s ability to express emotion on screen was not only authentic, but he portrayed a Mickey that felt like a real person. I knew his part would be a highlight, as he has already shown himself to be a diverse actor, but this film truly showed his ability to encapsulate a character.
There were many fantastic performances throughout, but my favorites came from Naomi Ackie as Nasha Barridge and Mark Ruffalo as Kenneth Marshall. Ackie embodied the definition of a powerful female protagonist. Their relationship throughout the film was the perfect representation of how love crosses all barriers and comes from loving every part of an individual. Ruffalo was also able to make a compelling antagonist throughout. He presented the perfect narcissistic conqueror with his arrogant attitude. He made a villain that was easy to hate, which had me excited to see how they would take him down. I appreciated how these characters added depth to the story through complex plot points.
My only grievance with this film was how plot-driven it was. I know that sounds crazy because who wouldn’t want a film that develops the plot thoroughly? Well, while sitting in the theater I realized my opposition comes from thinking it was going to be an action movie in space. The climax of the movie came at the end of the film and everything before was slow-paced world-building. I would’ve liked to see more conflict, whether it be him trying to escape death again or acting reckless to escape the colony.
Despite this complaint, “Mickey 17” was a highlight in the dystopian genre of today. I would definitely suggest it to anyone who enjoys outlandish concepts, engrossing characters, or simply the acting of our favorite retired vampire to watch this because it was extremely entertaining.
