Just in time for the Labor Day weekend, we are offered a new space film that seemed to have had little publicity until it popped onto the scene. The new film Slingshot, starting today and starring Casey Affleck and Laurence Fishburne, takes us on a trip to Saturn’s moon Titan, or that is the plan.
Here is the general story (and trailer):
A psychological thriller starring Casey Affleck and Laurence Fishburne, SLINGSHOT follows an elite trio of astronauts aboard a years-long, possibly compromised mission to Saturn’s moon Titan. As the team gears up for a highly dangerous slingshot maneuver that will either catapult them to Titan or into deep space, it becomes increasingly difficult for one astronaut to maintain his grip on reality.
The trailer indicates plenty of issues with both the hardware and software – the softest ware being the mind of man on a distant voyage. Yes, we have another story about the struggle of man with himself, with space playing a supporting actor.
Fortunately, we are not dealing with a film that questions the space program, but NASA may be pleased that it is sending a robot to study Europa rather than taking chances with such fragile humans.
Here are a few of the available reviews:
The derivative look and feel of Slingshot – a little bit of Interstellar, a dash of 2010: The Year We Make Contact for whenever Håfström wants to add some grit, and most especially Steven Soderbergh’s Solaris remake – make it unclear exactly what kind of movie Håfström is trying to make.
It’s fairly boilerplate material, and Håfström frankly seems more interested in exploring John’s memories, nightmares, visions and wavering psyche..If you put aside all the space stuff, Slingshot is basically a one-set, one-character thriller that constantly tests the viewer’s belief in what’s happening.
It feels like a movie that hates its characters. And hates you too.
Now the movie has some publicity, but maybe not the type it wanted.
Go for the special effects rather than the plot.
That might work.
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