REVIEW: ANNIHILATION

4/5

Death By Annihilation.

115 Mins. Starring: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotvy, David Gyasi, Benedict Wong & Oscar Isaac. Director: Alex Garland.

Destruction comes in many forms. From the threat of nature around us paying us back for all we take. To what we have nurtured in how we treat ourselves. 'Annihilation' looks at this extinction level event inevitability. The word "annihilate" is defined by Webster as "to destroy all traces of". And here you're going to get a figurative and literal representation of all of that. Based on Jeff VanderMeer's terrific trilogy beginning bestseller, 'The Beach' novelist and '28 Days Later' screenwriter Alex Garland follows his devastatingly dynamite directing debut 'Ex Machina' with the only thing we fear finishing us off more than the threat of Artificial Intelligence...the one from the mother nature of our own natural world. And whether robots or planets the actual alien notion of all of this is that it's all in our hands. We brought this all on ourselves. We created this destruction. Heavy I know. But a '2001 A Space Odyssey' and 'Interstellar' like epic, event film for the science fiction genre that shares more strands of DNA with 'Under The Skin' and 'The Tree Of Life', than say 'The Thing' or the forest aesthetic threat of 'Predator' was always going to be. Like Amy Adams alien 'Arrival' with 'Blade Runner 2049' thinking androids director Denis Villeneuve, 'Annihilation' will leave you thinking, talking and traipsing ending explanation articles and videos (much like Denis' Gyllenhaal doppleganger 'Enemy'). Long after you've left the theatre or Netflix app. Until it haunts you like last years deepest and most definitive, cinematic classic, 'A Ghost Story'. Portishead powered to a sonic score with all those hallmark low-fi, sci-fi drones, offset by the strumming acoustics of the chords of Crosby, Stills and Nash. This made for each other mix of home life and an extra terrestrial one shows us what lies beyond and what lies beneath and within our very souls. On the bubbling surface the oil and water like "Shimmer" of Area X in a Florida swampland shines a light on what we are doing to this physical world. But rifle gun run to the lighthouse like Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Shutter Island' and 'Annihilation' will show the darkness of what we are doing to our actual psychological selves.

Sinewy deer with cherry blossom branches as antlers. Alligators with even bigger jaws that bite. A wild boar that's scream bears more of a resemblance to your own shrieking cry of terror. This is a very different animal and world indeed. There's something lurking in the bushes of this forest of fear. But between the trees Garland garnishes these woods with color and cinematic beauty not seen this green since the amazing anime of Japan's 'In The Garden Of Words', whose rain storm swept Tokyo looks so life like you can't tell the difference between pictures of the real city today and the anime. Kaleidoscopic cell structures pierce your pupils too, as this visual and visceral feast of the senses and sensibilities touches you right on your nerve that is shred in the slow burn of this thrilling and terrifyingly compelling, vein taught thread of narrative. It's kind of like the raw feeling of pulling the ripped, loose skin from under your fingernail until it excruciatingly won't stop. Does that crawlingly remind you of the 'Black Swan'? Well with even more animalistic darkness dancing around her, one of today's best (albeit still so underrated), Natalie Portman delivers a powerhouse performance of tortured guilt and nuanced loneliness. Like the trials of the clinically calculated, glass of water coldness of the hazmat surrounded interview room she is surveyed and subjected in. This 'Jane' is more than her gun. Or the hammer of Marvel if fans ever get their wish to see her Jane Foster take over as the female 'Thor'. This amazing actress has better tools to bear and in this method of madness that is true fear itself, she sends shivers like she did in the memory of JFK for last years haunting 'Jackie' Best Actress worthy biopic epic. Her complex yet straight-forward characterization is also symbolic in showing us what great, redefining science ficion really is all about. Whether from original author Philip K. Dick to revolutionary filmaker Neil Blomkamp. Symbolic in that the inventive and inspired ideas of this genre really play background to the makings and morals of the metaphors that apply to the real world right now and what's to come if we continue on this same, worn path with footprints ahead of us.

Garland's garden of worlds has more to it than all this however in the wonder of this all women epic expedition that breaks ground without screaming from the tree tops about it. Legendary 'The Hateful Eight' star Jennifer Jason Leigh is unsettingly brilliant as a potent psychologist who truly gets under the skin of people who aren't even her patients. But oh how she tries to psychoanalyze them. Maybe not in the same hypnotic, by the VanderMeer book way, but this mind manipulation is still as maddening for the cinema crowd. Joining Portman's biologist and Leigh's psychologist is 'Eat Pray Love' star Tuva Novotvy's geologist. And the actress who served up substance in the 'Borg vs McEnroe' doubles biopic rocks here too, seeing more than granite once the dust settles. But the real standouts are the physicist and medic played by two of the best young actresses around today, Tessa Thompson and Gina Rodriguez respectively. 'Creed's' Thompson whose career after her Valkyrie character in 'Thor-Ragnarok' is about to hit an avenging 'Infinity' gives us her deepest and best yet as a tortured, sincere soul with strength in all the pain she has gone through and survived. Whilst 'Jane The Virgin' star Gina Rodriguez who made the move to movies with one of Mark Wahlberg and Pete Berg's more recent, real life collaborations, 'Deepwater Horizon' steals the show as a medic whose trying to stitch what's happening together faster than her body is falling apart from within. She owns one particular breakdown scene with breakneck, blood-curdling, terrifying tension. Going back to 'Interstellar', David Gyasi who made his mark there plays a spanner in the works catalyst here. Whilst 'Doctor Strange' Avenger (also about to go to 'Infinity' and beyond war), 'Martian' and Philip K. Dick 'Electric Dreams' and 'Blade Runner 2049', '2036: Nexus Dawn' star Benedict Wong is on hazmat hand to help uncover this story in his own undeniable way. But out of all the men made in this movie it's 'Star Wars' star pilot Oscar Isaac who strikes the strongest chord, albeit so subtly, reuniting with Garland after the mania of 'Machina'. Arguably the greatest leading man working today not named DiCaprio takes a back seat somewhat but has a presence that haunts the entire movie. Like his returning husband character who is the only man to come back from an expedition to Area X after most of the units killed themselves, each other or simply got lost in the woods. But is he the same man? Cue Bryan Cranston in 'Electric Dreams' like Johnny Depp's 'The Astronauts Wife'. Physically he certainly is but like with anything in this looks deceiving genre psychologically plays a different story to the beautiful family making flashbacks that puncuate this picture. And Oscar plays is always award worthy perfectly. Isaac, indies leading mans isolated independence tugs at the soul of a weathered and torn man who can't comprehend, let alone get over what he's been through...if he can even move on at all. There's lessons to be learned and earned here if only we here in the U.K. like the U.S. could see it on the big screen where this vivid visual belongs. But even smartphone screened in the dark this film will leave you wired and primed to look over your shoulder. It shudders both in what you see and what you feel, giving you more than a bump in the night that will keep you losing sleep and sheep till morning light trying to figure it all out. Rocking you to your bones like a phosphorus grenade. This annihilates everything in it's wake, except one thing we all have at our core despite ourselves. The strive to survive. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Ex Machina', 'The Thing', 'Arrival'.

T.V. REVIEW: ELECTRIC DREAMS Season 1

4/5

We Can Retell It For You Wholesale.

10 Episodes. Starring: Bryan Cranston, Greg Kinnear, Mireille Enos, Holliday Grainger, Geraldine Chaplin, Jack Reynor, Benedict Wong, Terrence Howard, Anna Paquin, Timothy Spall, Juno Temple, Janelle Monae, Annalise Basso, Maura Tierney, Vera Farmiga, Mel Rodriguez, Jason Mitchell & Steve Buscemi. Executive Producer: Bryan Cranston.

Together in 'Electric Dreams' the wise, cult-following, gospel words of foreshadowing fable, science-fiction forefather Philip K. Dick have a modern day 'Black Mirror' held up against them to reflect todays relationship between technology and humanity. Or albeit the lack of any in todays trend driven, swiped aside age of a social-media obsessed millennial generation in need of a real refresh. Sometimes you can't look forward without going back. And like the Tokyo neon like futuristic cities landscaped here, this Western world could learn from the Far East or the cyberpunk they and Dick inspire that the best worlds stretch the ideas of innovation but are still so steeped in the inspiration of tradition. It's no coincidence that this author wrote these decades in the making ahead of their time stories almost half a century ago. Philip K. Dick is to sci-fi what minerals are to water. P.K.D. is this genres DNA. Don't see the strand? Have you ever seen 'Total Recall', 'Minority Report', 'The Adjustment Bureau' or 'A Scanner Darkly'? Or read 'Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep' that became the other sci-fi masterpiece that made Harrison Ford and gave us a an up to date, stunning sequel and last years most groundbreaking blockbuster in 'Blade Runner 2049'? Well they and the real life ideas they have inspired (talking about the swipe aside generation K. Dick might have actually, inadvertently birthed it to the masses with 'Minority Report') would be nothing without Philip's ideas and words from the click, clack of his typewriter. His ideas verge between scary and prophecy. Utopia vs dystopia. His writing shadowing and warning. Just look at Amazon's Nazi alternate reality of 'The Man In The High Castle'. And after that shows success ten episodes of a new 'Electric Dreams' series now give us the individual short stories of this game-changing writer by the chapter. Executive produced by 'Breaking Bad's' Bryan Cranston and breaking all sorts of talents new and old, these dreams feature an electric, eclectic cast including Steve Buscemi, Greg Kinnear, Terrence Howard, Vera Farmiga, Timothy Spall, Juno Temple and the 'Archandroid' herself Janelle Monae. Pinch us as this blade running show runner is quite the spark.

Plug in and watch this shows series any way you like, as these ten individual stories all connected by K. Dick's futuristic and present day themes past are original and no one two the same in their own right. You could start at ten and count your way down. Or watch these episodes like dialling a phone number. But lets take a look at this anthologies chapters in numerical order. Episode 1: 'The Hood Maker' starring 'My Cousin Rachel' and 'The Finest Hours' standout Holliday Grainger is exactly the mind under surveillance matter story we need right now, with internet companies like Facebook trying to eat all our data and put it on other peoples plates too. Forget free speech how about free thought (Oh Hai Mark!)? Whilst the earth found highlight, 'The Impossible Planet' starring rising British 'Detroit' actor Jack Reynor, 'Martian', 'Doctor Strange' and 'Avengers: Infinity War' star Benedict Wong, Charlie Chaplin's fourth daughter Geraldine and an android straight out of the household of Robin Williams' 'Bicentennial Man' might just be the sweetest sci-fi story of the whole series. Whilst Timothy Spall's 'The Commuter' is by far the superior of the series...if albeit the most grounded in reality straight-forward. Save the lost, idyllic paradise he finds a stop and a half away from his usual train destination. Even the Hogwarts kids from 'Harry Potter' had less trouble getting on board. Steve Buscemi's 'Crazy Diamond' is exactly that...something weird amongst the rough of a nature nurtured by tech and humanoid pigs (can we sniff out some truffling symbolism Orwell?). Whilst the 'Real Life' V.R. interchanging of 'Empire's' Terrence Howard and Rogue actress Anna Paquin (another of this collections classic chapters) will have you guessing beyond the end like any good fill of Phil. Is this real life? Because this is all more than just a fantasy. This intelligence is everything and anything but artificial.

Creative controller Cranston cranks up the second half of this book of stories with the heralded 'Human Is', that with shades of Johnny Depp's 'The Astronaut's Wife' or Oscar Isaac in 'Annihilation' questions whether a returning husband is the man he looks and say he is. Or an alien taking his identity under the skin like that roach from 'Men In Black' who wanted sugar with water (..."MORE"). And whether any of that actually matters for better or worse. Whilst speaking of husbands coming home as changed men the Greg Kinnear and Mireille Enos suburban drama 'The Father Thing' is hiding haunting horrors outside the house. And after this living room watch that will have you peeled on the edge of your couch like a potato this series finishes strong, with us wanting for more. 'Autofac' starring breakout young actress you'd never guess is actually British Juno Temple and 'Hidden Figures' and 'Moonlight' star, let alone groundbreaking singer, already with an android obsession, Janelle Monae turns the page into an even more stellar story. Whilst Annalise Basso breaks out alongside 'E.R.' and 'The Affair' star Maura Tierney for the anything but 'Safe and Sound' school days. These 'Dreams' save the almost best for last too with 'K.A.O.' AKA 'Kill All Others' (subtle...we know). Starring 'Bates Motel's' Vera Farmiga, 'Straight Outta Compton' Eazy-E, Jason Mitchell and the real star of this show, Mel Rodriguez in subliminal and literal messages of paranoia of those in power and what the future will give us and take away from us hanging right in front of us. In plain sight, hiding behind our mongered fear to not end up the same as the people others will sell out just so they don't end up down the same river. This will stream through our collective conciousnesses like flood water through sand bags as we are haymaker hit the same with all this weight of wonder. It's a new world out here Huxley and it may only be for the brave. But in a way as uneasily unreal as it seems we can't wait to see what happens next. When it comes to this genre if you don't know Philip (whose influence would be so proud of these inspired incarnations and interpretations) then when it comes to science fiction you don't know Dick. Now we'll be counting sheep like androids until the next time we can dream electric. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Black Mirror', 'Blade Runner 2049', 'The Man In The High Castle'.

T.V. REVIEW: JESSICA JONES Season 2

4/5

Keeping Up With The Jones.

13 Episodes. Starring: Krysten Ritter, Rachael Taylor, Eka Darville, J.R. Ramirez, Terry Chen, Leah Gibson, Callum Keith Rennie, Janet McTeer & Carrie-Anne Moss. Created By: Melissa Rosenberg.

O.K. Let's start at the beginning again. A.K.A. Alias Investigations. And Netflix Marvel Defender 'Jessica Jones' takes us all the way back to the P.I. frosted glass door for Season 2...and throws us right through it. David Tennant's terrific tyrant Killgrave may be in his own headstone heralded one, but the ghosts of his demons are still so very alive and unwell. Such is the Purple Man bruised, whiskey, hip flask chasing unrest for Miss Jones. Still fighting back like a woman, calling times up on all the vile manipulation and violent abuse as she shows power beyond the superhero tag for the Me Too movement that demands and deserves real accountability and solidarity. No wonder Marvel-who are finally not missing out on the 'Wonder Woman' era-put this all episode binge stream out a day earlier than their usual Friday night highlights this International Woman's Day. It means so much more and now Stan Lee's street-level, smartphone screen heroes are killing it like the Scarlett 'Black Widow' movie previously lost in cutting room translation that we really want to see more than the mystique of Jennifer Lawrence's misguided 'Red Sparrow' affair. Epecially as Johansson is going atomic blonde for the 'Infinity War'. Marvel's men know this world in need of saving would be nothing without a woman. And 'Breaking Bad', good and every face of every wannabe Walter White too, Jess is off the red Daredevil chain like Chastain. Going against the book-and even the comic-Krysten Ritter has even written a dark novel in the form of the sleepless night, page-turning thriller 'Bonfire' igniting bookshelves. But now behind her malt wood desk it's time for her to match strike burn it all down, page to screen. The previous fall favourite, now follows Jon Bernthal's powerful punch of 'The Punisher' vigilante and dime and begins this new year of 'Black Panther' and Marvel revolution that has even the most hardcore freaks and geeks able to wait for the eagerly anticipated infinity...even if it is coming early. Faster than an Easter Egg weird and wonderful Whizzer!

Still as curiously compelling as it's noir New York jazz infused, slow burn investigation, unlucky for some (Danny Rand) 13 episode procedural. The blue jeans, leather jacket and finger-less gloves cradling a Nikon that develops her income are back in a Marvel calender flipping so thick and fast like the intro I.D. credits, or former series guest star Luke Cage's own second season throwdown this Summer. And sure if you step into her office you may see her pour something barely lethal from the bottle. But it's got nothing on the toxicity that runs rampant through the city. So wait in the hall for your turn, because this private investigator has other appointments. Especially a late night call with Lucy. Perhaps New York's finest dive-bar this side of Hells Kitchen. Because after a hella of a hell of a long day sometimes you need to hit a bar stool and have the tender slide you one over before you...CRACK! Jessica smashes the shot glass down as it shatters like the suspicion that she might be your typical superhero. She asks for another hit and takes it on the chin before pounding the glass down again. And for round three between typical bar room bantering and bartering back and forth of "are you drinking to remember or forget" and "are you sure you haven't had enough" which Jones backhand returns perfectly like a pro with every lime soured serving. She turns what would be a cliched scene in any ordinary series and gives us another reason why these extended Marvel/Netflix shows give us even more personal face-time with these street-level powers than some of the biggest Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans Marvels in the blockbuster business, 18 films to 'Infinity' deep. She looks to throw down again but as she throws back the nectar of the scotch on the rocks with a twist her gloves warmed by the liquid looking for courage stop short of the bar and join a resigned look on her face that says she's giving up...but not yet. Take that how you want but it's another example of how real Ritter is in capturing all the rawness of Jessica's character. Still haunted by the horror of Killgrave who even though he is in the last part of his name, he is still here one way or another. Not letting Jess rest as she turns in her alcohol fuelled sleep. This all sounds like unnecessary torture, but it's a terrible tale a world saying "me too" needs right now to solidarity show us beyond entertainment how horrible things really are in the abhorrent manner of harassment. Whether from individuals should be safe, supporting spouse husbands, to individuals you may pass in the hall with a look you just didn't ask for. There's a lot of decent men out there, but there is also a hell of a lot of indecent ones out there too that need to be accounted for and brought to justice for all the wrong they do. That they still for some "do you think we where born yesterday...or in the 1950's" (because that's no entitled excuse to those so indignified or ignorant) reason think is right. We all need to take stock of ourselves and our actions and also call time on what is injust and rightfully so no longer belongs in the world today like it should never have had anyway. That's what we've had enough of.

"I don't take no for an answer" one new character tells Jessica. "How very rapey of you" she retorts in K.O. put down (before actually kicking his ass) that Williams sister backhand still serving up strong to any rally coming her way. Melissa Rosenberg's groundbreaking show formidably features all-female directors this 13 times round. And the subject matter broached here...wrote before the 'Me Too' movement took hold last year. Exactly like (did you forget?) the nature of the beast of Season One. This show is much more than a superhero one. It is one for every woman in the world and how powerful they really are. And it's been soaring to these heights before what should be everyones right became a social media trend that fuelled the march of a movement that is much more than likes or retweets and is real action and respect. And that's just what is shared between the sisters of this series and Jessica Jones' unoffical sidekick (now guest star Luke Cage is having coffee with other people) played perfectly like in 'The Defenders' by Rachael Taylor. The radio show host getting her investigation journalist alias on and bringing much more than talk to this dialogue heavy action earner with hell to pay. Taylor was made for this and the former child star character throws the casting couch out the window as she shatters any stronghold from a Weinstein like character...again wrote before that controversy even came out. And how about Eka Darville all 'Daredevil' daring?! Going from the pain of addiction to the gains of weight-room abuse in just two short years that have taken him from gaunt to hench (along with his haircut going from a messy afro to putting the magazine down and asking the barber for a 'Killmonger'), in more ways than just what you find in a protein shake. They're the holdovers along with 'Matrix' legend Carrie Anne-Moss' acclaimed attorney (raising the bar again and even raiding one. As this time this lacerating lawyer gets real personal with her effects) for a cast that was told by Tennant to throw themselves off buildings or put bullets in their head...whether or not they still had a working gun. But there's some new faces too. Across the hall J.R. Ramirez is a different kind of super and there's more to this single father than just trying to do right by his son. And the thousand words in a New York minute tattooed arms of Terry Chen's story try to muscle their way in, legal or otherwise. Although he soon finds himself nursing a sling, whilst Jones does a hangover and subpeona. And just wait until you find out what rising actress Leah Gibson and legend Janet McTeer are all about (just like 'Due South' Ray replacement Callum Keith Rennie. The 'Jigsaw' star fitting all these puzzle pieces together perfectly). To give away more would be to spoil all these womens work, but behind the scenes there's so much going on showing their worth to a franchise that once refused to put a female villain in a 'Thor' movie because they didn't think people would watch. Oh how they wondered wrong as you saw in 'Ragnarok' with the Oscar winning Cate Blanchett's Hela to pay.  And it wasn't the end of the world...just the old one. In a time where we can only hope to see Natalie Portman's Jane Foster brought back to take the hammer if Chris Hemsworth's head crushing Thor loses more than an eye or his locks in the forthcoming original 'Avengers' conclusion. In the space-age of Captain Marvel there's a lot more going on at street level than the fallout of "the incident" they keep talking about. There's a new frame of reference and you can find it in the lens of Jones' camera, not the blurred vision at the bottom of a bottle. Focus. Not all glass was made to be broken and if they can't see her through the frosted door anymore it means it's longer open to them. Case closed. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Alias', 'The Defenders', 'Luke Cage'.