Posts
2011, 07-11:
Review of film: “ANOTHER EARTH” + Q&A with BRIT MARLING & MIKE CAHILL
The movie “ANOTHER EARTH”
This independent film was written by 2 friends, one of whom (Brit) is the lead actress in the story & the other (MIKE CAHILL) is the director of the movie...
... Rhoda Williams (BRIT MARLING) is a very bright student... She has a basically very supportive family, consisting of her father Robert (FLINT BEVERAGE), mother Kim (JORDAN BAKER), and jokester brother Jeff (ROBIN TAYLOR)...
... As Brit is driving a car, it’s announced on the radio by DJ FLAVA that a new PLANET has just appeared in Earth’s sky, located sort of between Earth & its moon. It appears to be a DUPLICATE of the one here-- in other words, ANOTHER Earth...
... The scene shifts to a family riding in another car: a man named John Burroughs (WILLIAM MAPOTHER), his wife Maya (MEGGAN LENNON) & their young child...
... Because Brit is very distracted by the news on the radio, she’s careless in her driving & CRASHES into William’s car... When Brit goes over to their car, it appears everyone who was inside it has DIED in the crash...
... Brit is sent to PRISON for the accident she’d caused, & we see her 4 years later as she is getting OUT of the jail... Altho she’s highly educated & could conceivably get a job utilizing her brains, she purposely DOESN’T WANT to do that:
... Still badly affected by the accident she’d caused, she wants to AVOID any job where she’d have to directly “DEAL” with people on a regular basis... So, although it was a position quite “below” her ability, she took a job doing MAINTENANCE work at a high school...
... One of the people she works with is an elderly blind janitor named Purdeep (KUMAR PALLANA), who does TALK to her periodically in ways that make her “THINK” about life (as he’s a “reflective” type soul)...
... At one point, Brit investigates the situation involving the crash she’d caused, & learns that the father (William) had SURVIVED the accident-- although, he seemingly is not WORKING regularly as the musician he’d been...
... Wanting to try to somehow apologize & try to make some “amends” for what she’d caused, Brit goes to William’s ramshackle house. She sees a bunch of LIQUOR bottles all around, &, when he finally staggers to the door, she makes up a STORY as to why she’s there:
... Brit claims she works for a company called “Maid in Haven (CT)”, & they’re offering people a 1-day free CLEANING to “acquaint” people with their service... Since his home is a horrible mess & money has been a problem, he AGREES to let her clean his kitchen, which she starts to do...
... She’s upset to see how depressingly “MESSY” William’s place is (clearly, because he’s still so upset & depressed over losing his wife & child). That adds to making it too hard for her to come out & tell William just “WHO” she really is...
... Altho she initially intended to not go back, feeling increasingly GUILTY, Brit RETURNS to his place the following week for the “paid” cleanup help he’d said he wanted from her “company”... She then cleans his place some MORE -- tho she in no way reveals WHO she truly is (& later tears up the check he gives her)...
... In time, Brit (& the rest of the world) keeps wondering about the 2nd “EARTH” that’s appeared... We hear from various “experts” in the field of such phenomenon, including RICHARD BERENDZEN, talking at a “Symposium”...
... After much hesitation, she finally enters a CONTEST to try to win a seat on a private venture designed to FLY to that new planet (tho no one is sure just “what” is really THERE on it)...
... Having someone “around” him helps William start to “OPEN-UP” more & start to CARE about life & himself more... He then at one point plays a SONG he’s composed— playing the ethereal-sounding piece on a musical SAW...
... Brit & William start to get “CLOSER” as people...
... In time, she learns she’s WON the seat on the flight to “ANOTHER Earth”, & is unsure what to do about that...
... Will Britt ever reveal to William just “WHO” she is, &, if so, how will he “REACT” to that?... Is the “other” Earth really a “PARALLEL Universe” to ours, &, if so, to what DEGREE?...
... Will we learn facts about who or “what” is ON the 2nd Earth, &, if so, what will that “LEAD” to?...
... A couple of lady friends of mine who also saw the advance screening I attended commented they were DISAPPOINTED in the film: from the synopsis, it had appeared to be a “science fiction” type of film (which they like), yet, there was almost NO real sci-fi “explored” in the story...
... It’s essentially a DRAMA about RELATIONSHIPS & what can “happen” to people when they suffer an unexpected bad situation...
... Thruout the movie, Brit acts sort of “STUNNED” about what she’d “caused” in the life of someone else, &, while her demeanor may seem “strange” on the surface, I found it to be a “FITTING” reaction to the scenario “set-up”...
... I too would’ve LIKED to see more extensive “sci-fi” elements. But, given it’s an “indie” movie made on a SHOESTRING budget, there clearly wasn’t MONEY for “special effects” it probably would’ve needed...
... There are a couple surprise “twists” at the end of the movie, & I LIKED that-- except in the way it leaves you “UP-in-the-AIR” about things, & there aren’t yet concrete plans for any SEQUEL(S) to “RESOLVE” things & move the story “FORWARD” (as a 2nd film or mini-series might do)...
... But, let’s just look at the movie for what it “IS”. I found the “parallel universe” concept an INTRIGUING and thought-provoking one (even if it’s not “explored” very deeply)...
... I LIKED the simple “out-of-it” demeanor of the characters played by Brit & William. Thus, because of that-- & things I learned in a QUESTION & ANSWER session held right AFTER the film (which I’ll detail below) --, I’m rating it at 7.25 out of 10 stars...
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Q&A with co-writers BRIT MARLING (= also the star) & MIKE CAHILL (= director)
There has been a LONG HISTORY of the idea of “PARALLEL” Universes & similar planes of existence & “affiliated” thoughts...
... They were found in Hindu mythology (like the “PURANAS” going back to at least the 3rd Century CE), in Arabic (a tale called “The Adventures of Bulukiya” in “ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS”, going back perhaps to the 8th Century), & others...
... Other Fantasy / sci-fi themes can be found in more modern LITERATURE:
... Jonathon Swift’s “GULLIVER’S TRAVELS” in 1726; & Lewis Carroll’s 1865 “ALICE’S ADVENTURE IN WONDERLAND”)...
... Jonathon Swift’s “GULLIVER’S TRAVELS” in 1726; & Lewis Carroll’s 1865 “ALICE’S ADVENTURE IN WONDERLAND”)...
... And Frenchman Jules Verne’s “sci-fi” stories such as 1864’s “A JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH”, 1870’s “TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA”, & 1873’s “AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS”)...
... And various H.G. Wells stories such as 1895’s “THE TIME MACHINE”, & “parallel” universe tales such as 1895’s “THE WONDERFUL VISIT” & 1922’s “MEN LIKE GODS”, + 1898’s famous “THE WAR OF THE WORLDS”...
... Sci-fi movies go back to 1902’s “A TRIP TO THE MOON” by French “special effects” magician GEORGES MÉLIÈS...
... A specific “parallel universe” idea is contained in a 1961 story by John Wyndham called “RANDOM QUEST”... We’ve seen the “parallel” ideas used in various “recent” MOVIES & TV shows such as the “STAR TREK” series...
... And now, we have this latest “INDIE” effort, “ANOTHER EARTH”...
... AFTER seeing the film in question, the advance-screening audience had the opportunity to hear a Q&A session with co-writers BRIT MARLING & MIKE CAHILL who had literally just arrived by plane for the event...
... Host of the talk was “CAPONE” from “AintItCool”, who recalled how he’d first seen the film at this year’s “SXSW” Festival in Austin, TX, where Brit had been involved in TWO films, this one & another sci-fi entry she’d written called “SOUND OF MY VOICE”...
... Capone commented on how, tonite’s [PG-13] film was an unusual one: “You know it’s ‘weird’ when you have to use your BRAIN nowadays--” in watching a film like this one...
... Brit said, they barely made it into town on time, since, for some reason, [long-haired] Mike’s bag was initially taken by the POLICE for some special “check” or the like...
... Mike spoke of how the soundtrack for the film was done by PHIL MOSSMAN & WILL BATES (as “FALL ON YOUR SWORD”), seemingly friends of his...
... He & Brit spoke of how they came up with some early ideas for the movie (partly done as a previous short), & in-effect “expanded” their ideas for a feature-length film after listening to a discussion (such as about “reconnecting to the COSMOS”) with such people as RICHARD BERENDZEN (who’s utilized IN the film playing himself)...
... Mike revealed that, part of the “idea” for the film came from the concept that the existence of a “parallel” universe was another “way” to talk to YOURSELF... He spoke of the progression of which thoughts came to mind first as they worked to plan the film...
... Capone talked about how Brit’s character was “in desperate need of repair” (from depression about the car crash accident)... He mentioned that, the “buzz” at SXSW was that Brit’s “SOUND OF MY VOICE” was touted as one of the “special” films to see, & how “ANOTHER EARTH” was “almost a ‘secret’ screening” in comparison...
... When Capone asked, Brit said, she grew-up in the CHICAGO area. She added that, in fact, a COUSIN of hers named Michael was supposed to be at tonite’s screening--, & she was thrilled when he raised his hand in like the 3rd row of the audience...
... Brit told how she’d met MIKE (who was the director of this movie + also cinematographer & editor) when she went to GEORGETOWN University... In fact, she’d sort of “STALKED” him there after seeing some of his work!...
... She spoke of how they’d gotten along so well after they’d met, that it was natural to get together & do a bunch of little “SHORT” films together (+ usually with ANOTHER friend of theirs there)...
... To a comment by Capone, Mike & Brit agreed, their movie was made (around West Haven, CT) without getting any supposedly-required PERMITS to shoot anything!...
... Mike said, the only “difficult” scene set-up was the one of Brit leaving what was supposedly a “prison”:
... He related how, they’d found a jail type building, &, with him holding the Sony X-3 camera, he’d told Brit to go INTO the building, turn around & simply come out...
... With lots of guts, she DID just that, making up a story that she was carrying a “yoga mat” because she’d been sent to supposedly “TEACH” yoga in the building!... Then, when she quickly came out, he’d seemingly had trouble with the ignition of the car they were trying to use for a quick “GETAWAY” from there!...
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... As Mike & Brit spoke, it was clear they had a super-relaxed, easygoing relationship, which they exhibited with good humor throughout the talk...
... One of the audience members commented on how the film came across as a well-done “character-driven” setup... But, he wondered, why hadn’t they done more with the idea of what “HAPPENED” to William’s musician character on the “OTHER” world, what he’d “DO” there & all?...
... Mike said, they certainly had “thoughts” about that & other elements (such as what happens to BRIT’s character)... But, tho they might’ve liked making a much “larger” movie from their ideas, it wasn’t feasible to do that financially...
... After his words, Brit agreed with that, adding in a kidding way, that, if you buy Mike some “drinks” later, he might well “expound” on some of the ideas they’d mulled over for a “larger” film or a possible bunch of SEQUELS based on tonite’s film!...
... An audience member asked about the scenes with the SAW. Mike said, he’d chanced to meet a woman on a train in New York who was carrying a musical saw, & he hired her to be the one who’s actually PLAYING the otherworldly-sounding song William’s character plays for Brit...
... Mike said, he liked the idea of creating something akin to the old eerie “theramin” sound used in 1950’s sci-fi films... [That Russian electronic musical instrument was invented in 1920 & patented in 1928. It was later “improved” on for the invention of the Robert Moog synthesizer...]
... And, yes, they’d “considered” the idea of the saw also being used in a “MENACING” way in the movie-- but eventually rejected that idea as too “extreme” & unnecessary!...
... Mike at one point said, overall, they’d tried to work thoroughly on “organizing” their story as carefully as possible... But, the very end of the movie was not planned in advance when they started the filming, since they hadn’t “decided” on that yet...
... A person in the audience spoke of how there are some “intense” scenes (with Brit) in the movie...
... Mike made some comments about the recent release of Malick’s “TREE OF LIFE” film, & said, he “wonders” about how there seems to be an increase in what could be called EXISTENTIAL ideas in some recent movies such as that & their “ANOTHER EARTH”:
... “There’s something in the ‘air’... We’re seeking MEANING, asking ‘BIG’ QUESTIONS, [like], ‘Why are we HERE—’...”
... Brit spoke a bit about how, since we’re running out of resources on this planet, there may be additional “INTEREST” in finding what is in-effect “ANOTHER” way to handle the problem (such as by seeking new resources like via another planet)...
... And then, as she commented, there are also certain spiritual & affiliated matters that arise from such considerations...
... A guy in the audience remarked that, as he watched the “ANOTHER EARTH” film, it almost seemed like the beginning of a MINI-series rather than a “completed” story, & he’d like to see such “related” episodes...
... Brit said, well, the film is opening July 22nd, &, if it does WELL, they’d love to do MORE movies on the general subject...
... Continung, she said, if it turns out that the “2nd” Earth is a DUPLICATE of this Earth, there could be “6.3 billion stories” possible-- especially depending on whether the timelines “DIVERGE” from the one here (& if so, when & how they differ)!...
... Mike added, they’d also have such opportunities as a Narcissist who meets “HIMSELF” on the other Earth (+ other similar possibilities)...
... Capone spoke of how Brit’s “SOUND OF MY VOICE” film is more really sci-fi in its story... Brit said, that’s scheduled to open towards the very end of this year...
... An audience member asked about the use of the janitor figure played by Kumar. Mike spoke of how he was hired & how he -- tho “blind” in his role -- has the ability to see “thru” the GUILT that Brit’s character feels from causing the accident... He’s also used as an example re an “obliteration of senses”...
... One of the things that Brit & Mike wanted to get across is, it can be hard for people to FORGIVE when difficult things happen...
... Capone commented on how, with a film like “ANOTHER EARTH”, it will succeed only thru people using WORD-OF-MOUTH telling OTHERS about it; so, he hoped we’d TELL others about it...
... Brit was asked by a person in the audience, why didn’t she pick-up with her previous (highly-educated) life when she gets out of PRISON?...
... She replied that, it was decided that it’d be better to have her deeply affected by the accident she’d caused & “base” her actions on THAT, & to have her character go into cleaning instead of science or the like which she’d pursued before...
... An audience member wondered, would William’s musician character likely connect-up with his WIFE & CHILD in the “other” Earth?...
... Brit & Mike said, they’d thought about that, it would, of course, depend on how “PARALLEL” the universes were, & whether the timelines DIVERGED at a given point between the 2 Earths... Again, it’s something that might be explored in a sequel...
... Capone asked some more questions... Mike spoke of how he was affected by thoughts & ideas of CARL SAGAN & others who had a fine “non-technical” way of describing concepts regarding space & timelines & the like, & the fine way they “related” things between & “thru” people...
... A person in the audience asked about the process of creating the film’s script & all... Brit said, they both liked making progress thru talking BACK & FORTH to each other & “bouncing” ideas off each other, which they’d then “elaborate” on bit-by-bit...
... For instance, they’d come up with the idea of having William attacking her with his SAW when he first finds out just “who” she really is... But, the idea was just too “EXTREME” to use it, it changed the “mood” & ‘tone” of the story. So, they’d discarded that idea...
... Mike spoke more about how they didn’t have the finished “end” to the movie in mind when they started it. Brit said, they felt the ending was vitally IMPORTANT, & it was really “EXCITING” for them when they eventually “figured it out”...
... A guy in the audience posed thoughts of how Brit’s character “SAW” herself, & how it might have been an interesting idea to contemplate how things might “be” if Brit had NOT given AWAY her ticket won for the ride to the “OTHER” Earth. Sincerely, good-natured Mike said ah, that’s an interesting idea!...
... Brit spoke of how Mike eventually came up with the “end” idea wherein her character sees a “second” image of herself. But then, Mike came up with the plan wherein they purposely do NOT show any clear “REACTION” on Brit’s part to what she’d just seen-- again, “holding” it for possible use in a FUTURE tale...
... Capone spoke of the “shattered earth” theory, etc...
... A man in the audience said, he would’ve liked to see more about the basic characters than about the RELATIONSHIP between Brit & William... Mike feels, sci-fi is a fine genre to use for discussing & telling the story of IDEAS [& concepts]...
... Mike agreed that, this movie is set-up as a “straight-out DRAMA” rather than as a strict SCI-FI story. It was done in part to show “the difference between FATE & CHOICE”...
... Thus, at times, you’re encouraged to decide, is what happens due to “fate”, or is it “CHAOTIC” in nature?... Are we, in effect, really “playing ‘ROLES’ in life”?!...
... Capone commented on how he’d found Brit’s acting style “really UNIQUE”. She thanked him, & said, she purposely didn’t want to act super “dramatic” as her character...
... When she was young, she’d appeared in lots of little plays, & she disliked the idea of coming across as a “starving artist” type...
... At one point, she’d worked in an investment bank, recognized she wasn’t LIKING that, & eventually realized she preferred ACTING, so she concentrated on THAT...
... Continuing, Brit told how she’d once gone to LOS ANGELES, where she’d done a lot of auditions. But, she’d found most roles available for young women were LOUSY ones, as hookers or dumb idiots or the like...
... That helped convince her to instead try WRITING, & she’s ENJOYED doing that—especially because it allows her to create roles the way she WANTS them to be!...
... In response to a question from the audience, Brit ssaid, while she’d “consider” doing roles offered by “OUTSIDE” people, she expects that most of her work will continue to be with friends like MIKE & their mutual friend ZAL BATMANGLIJ (who’s given “Special Thanks” re making this film)...
... Mike agreed, saying, they appreciate the way they SUPPORT each other as people & artists. Brit kidded, they have nothing to “lose” because, “They’ve already ‘SOLD-OUT’!...”
... Overall, Brit says, she expects that “we’ll work together ALL our lives—”, even tho they’ll contemplate “OTHER” projects...
... A woman in the audience complimented them on “ANOTHER EARTH”. Mike said, they appreciated that, & spoke of how they’d found it easiest to work on writing the script & doing CAMERA work around his mother’s HOUSE, which saved a lot of time & money & the like!...
... Mike volunteered a story of how he had a friend who was involved in law enforcement, & that friend helped close-down a 4-line HIGHWAY for a short period, so he could film the CAR-CRASH scene without getting any normally-required special “permit” or the like!... Thus, the “involved” scene only cost them like $ 50...
... They’d shot the film over like a 10 day period... They’d shot the FINAL scene FIRST, in part because William wasn’t yet available for shooting... Brit’s sister chanced to see FOG roll in one day, & ran to tell them-- which caused them to hurry out & USE that for one of the scenes!...
... The rest of the film was pretty much shot in chronological order after that... They at one point met a guy named Hunter (I think it was), & happened to mention their film to him...
... It was funny, the way Mike related how, all he had to “show” the guy at that point was a picture of the 2 Earths he chanced to have with him. He’d acted very “cool” as he “pushed” the picture across a table to the guy, & that “intrigued” him...
... After they’d talked some more about the project, the guy put them in touch with some of the eventual PRODUCERS, who came up with some more MONEY for the production! So, that’s how they reached the “finished” product we saw today...
... As to hiring William for his role, Mike had chanced to see him in a movie role + in the TV series of “LOST” [as character Ethan Rom in 11 episodes shown from 2007-2010], & he was interested in the role. Mike felt, “He had a fine energy—”, & they were pleased he came on-board the project...
... A guy in the audience asked Mike a question about whether doing the concepts shown in the film had caused him to change any of his “VIEWS” in life...
... Mike thought that was a wonderful question, & spoke of how the process in some ways changed their views of how to do some things. At one point, he spoke of how “enlightenment is like a RUBBER map”...
... Brit added that, Mike has helped teach her, “DON’T be AFRAID [to try things]... Don’t be afraid to FAIL!...”
... Brit & Mike came across as a very LIKEABLE couple, & you felt HAPPY for them that they’d been able to move forward with their dreams via this movie...
... After the Q&A, they gladly signed posters of the film for members of the audience...
... And TALKED to various people who came up to share thoughts with them...
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You can hear music from the movie Another Earth (the musical saw scene) on the composer's website: http://www.scottmunsonmusic.com/news/music-in-film-another-earth-soundtrack/
ReplyDeleteThe woman he director mentioned who played the musical saw on the soundtrack is on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Natalia-Saw-Lady-Paruz-musical-saw-player/129253832734