REVIEW: THE MIDNIGHT SKY

3.5/5

Midnight Special. 

122 Mins. Starring: George Clooney, Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo, Tiffany Boone, Demian Bichir, Ethan Peck, Sophie Rundle, Kyle Chandler and Introducing, Caoilinn Springall. Director: George Clooney. 

'Gravity' defying in Oceans of space. Last year Brad Pitt had the acclaimed 'Ad Astra'. Whilst Matt Damon in decades past has been both 'The Martian' and an inspired 'Interstellar' cameo like all his Marvel ('Thor: Ragnarok' and 'Deadpool 2' like Brad) ones that are way past spoiler alerts now. But when it comes to George Clooney, he has his pop out for some popcorn and you'll miss it portion in Sandra Bullock's descent to earth, the cerebal, cinematic solitude of 'Solaris' and now this. 'The Midnight Sky' on Netflix. The stellar streaming service that has plenty on its space slate. 'The Space Between Us' like 'The Wandering Earth' of 'Another Life'. 'Destination 10' or their 'Lost In Space' reboot and 'Space Force' serieses. 'Away' and cancelled with Hilary Swank after just one season (huh?). And of course who could forget, even though they wish they could, 'The Cloverfield Paradox'? That after the outstanding, original found-footage original and the different but dynamic direction of the haunted house horror sequel turned into some 'Thing' else...and we're talking 'Addams Family' not a Kurt Russell 80's cult amalgamation like 'Big Trouble In Little China'. "Da, da, da, da"...doesn't work. David Oyelowo who plays his part perfectly here was in that space mess hall mess. As a matter of fact all aboard here have previous experience out of this world here for this movie with a grounded and earthbound in beard Clooney. So much so they should send their resumes to NASA (and how about that 'Challenger' docu-series?). There's the 'Star Wars' of 'Rogue One' Felicity Jones (not to mention the 'Star Trek' of Ethan Peck), Oyelow who was a 'Rebel' himself for some animated 'Star Wars' aswell as a briefer time in 'Interstellar' than Damon, Demian Bichir was aboard the 'Alien: Covenant' and even the 'Super 8' film of Kyle Chandler, who also helped Ryan Gosling's 'First Man' in Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. But with these more simple steps, awash in a sea of midnight black that is the night sky above us. Is this final frontier from leading man/director Clooney boldy energizing, simply set to stun, or in need of being beamed up and out of here? In the cold steel of a microwave dinner solitary and isolated outpost in space no one can hear you scream...or yawn. 

Cosmonaut compelling however this character study is worthy of the science...even if you may fall asleep in class. Sure, quarantined and locked up like we are locked down this thing sure takes itself seriously...but what doesn't in this terrible 2020? Although you may wish you had just streamed the isolation of 'Home Alone' or even the sky scaling and scraping 'Die Hard' as the festive movie debate goes on this Christmas eve. Or maybe even the classic Cary Grant like Clooney, Rat Pack like Sinatra singing Christmas songs about needing some loving this December 25th with fellow old Oceans, 'Monument Men' Bill for Sofia Coppola's 'A Very Murray Christmas' (and how about Bill Murray and Coppola's second reunion 'On The Rocks' for one of this years best movies in an industry as title such?). It's a 'Catch-22', 'The Midnight Sky' sure looks the part (it's a shame, despite the Netflix deal it looks so cinematic and set for a theatrical run like 'Wonder Woman' this '1984'), but so does the lonely hotel setting of Sofia's 'Murray Christmas', "for a soundstage in Queens", George remarks as Cyrus sings. There's plenty of silent nights to be had here when all is white snow bright. Wolves are lurking from all corners like bite of the frost-bit cold, or the venom of a virus familiarly linking in like your distanced social network. Here come the 'Tenet' masks. We can all sure relate to this one, no matter how plodding and pondering it is flicking peas. As a bearded and bedraggled Clooney sips Irish tea in the mirrors reflection of a window starring out to nothing. Self medicating himself on whatever is at prescriptionless hand in this scientist's laboratory or junkies playground. Fixing it all with two fingers and a singer as his Jack like company singing about Tennessee whiskey like it was the warm embrace of a woman. There's a moment in the movie were the Canada goose beard of Clooney has to 'Wind River' shotgun someone crash landed in something that looks like 'The Mountain Between Us' and that Universal Studios set from Tom Cruise's 'War Of The Worlds' (who recently had a COVID war of the words) out of their misery. Some audience members (audience...pah of what?! Our living rooms) will want for the same fate. Others will realize this fever dream like movie which might actually help you slow down the longest year that has still had you climbing the walls even with nothing to do at home but stare into space (seems apt), and recognize this as the spiritual sequel to 'Solaris', or maybe even its great, greying grandfather. Someone will recognize the science behind the astronauts akin to the 'Tomorrowland: A World Beyond' actor's (who last made a movie a half decade ago with fellow 'Oceans' icon Julia Roberts in fellow 90's one Jodie Foster's 'Money Monster') 2007 to 2010 period of prominence. When 'The Ides Of March' descendant and actor/director made slow burning classics like the political fix of 'Michael Clayton', the frequent flying solo miles on the lonely soul of 'Up In The Air' and the cold steel silence of an assassin assembling the very weapon that may finally take him out on the sleepy Italian streets of 'The American'. As also cerebral as his brother Brad's 'Ad Astra' in a career year for that 'Once Upon A Time In...Hollywood' Best Supporting Actor. This belongs with them, in a different time. A time were we were more involved instead of a time were we scrolled. 

Midnight yearning for some clarity, you may find it in these friendly skies however as for the all star, class cast that is on Netflix labor cost/Hollywood sales budget here it's the "introducing" actor that really inspires. Isn't that just the way it always goes? Coming of age before our eyes, Clooney chose Caoilinn Springall because her eyes told stories he couldn't. And you can really see it in this young pupil. So much so she moves us without a word in this world that moves so slow it needn't have a sound. Stealing the show all the way to a food fight that lines up both child like sides of this mature young actress and the ageing Hollywood heartthrob, settled down and married, but still known to saran wrap toilets for pranks like back in the stethoscope salad days of 'ER', County General in Chicago with Anthony Edwards, Eriq La Salle and 'The Good Wife'. A recent as compelling as the 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction' Letterman episode interview in GQ. Magazine with Mr. Gentleman's Quarterly himself revealed that George Clooney gave 14 of his best friends a million dollars in a Tumi bag (I'd have been happy with just the bag and a a Nespresso maker...what else?), because "why wait" (I think the same thing George)? To which Newsdesk reporter Fadel Allassan hilariously remarked on Twitter, "imagine being George Clooney's 15th best friend" (sorry Matt Damon...but I think you'll be alright). Still, the man whose done more for this world-let alone his closest-breaks off some of Hollywood's elite with the Franklin's too. All for his cause to continue the industries influenced voyage into space. This Christmas Eve playing like the EVE of an atmospheric space-based, massive multilayer you can persistently play for life in a whole new world. There's a fantastic Felicity Jones. Fresh off 'The Theory Of Everything' and 'On The Basis Of Sex' 07-11 Clooney like run. A subtly outstanding Oyelowo. A quiet actor of serious 'Syriana' Jeffrey Wright restrained passion who played Martin Luther King Jr. in 'Selma' so glory worthy perfectly, you forgot it was him. Tiffany Boone of 'The Chi' and Al Pacino's Nazi 'Hunters' in the Amazon, breaking out to her own moment and groundbreaking space walk scene that rivals the pull and taut tension of 'Gravity'. The underrated and incredible 'A Better Life' and 'The Hateful 8' actor Demain Bichir with beautiful heart like the "ba, ba, ba, baaa" of 'Sweet Caroline'. And the steady hand of the versatile and always reliable, 'Friday Night Lights', 'Manchester By The Sea' and the one straight and narrow character in Scorsese's debauched, 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' actor, Kyle Chandler. Being moved to the projector core virtual involvement of time gone by family moments have never been this lump in the throat inducing since Tom Cruise medicated himself with this sort of longing in replay for Spielberg's 'Minority Report'. Let's not forget the emotional catalyst of 'Peaky Blinders' sister Sophie Rundle either, who gets to the heart of a young Clooney. But forget CG! Who else but the grandson of Gregory Peck, Ethan Peck to find his mark and man and play a young Clooney's Augustine so aesthetic and note perfect? And you thought this Spock was good. Speaking of Vulcans, was that Tuvok from 'Voyager'? How's this for a 'Dicovery' that will live long and prosper? It's not been done this good since Josh Brolin played a young Tommy Lee Jones in 'Men In Black III'. Tune in to this Quaid like 'Frequency' of Clooney playing Ed Harris (like that actors 'Gravity' Easter Egg vocal cameo) to this 'Midnight' skies Tom Hanks 'Apollo 13' and you'll feel the emotional tone right off the dust jacket of Lily Brooks-Dalton's 'Good Morning, Midnight' book it was based on. Even if you want to say goodnight by the last look of the moon. Some stars burn away and fade just as fast (welcome to the extensive library that is Netflix everyone! 'The Trial Of The Chicago 6' anyone?), but that doesn't mean they don't shine bright. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Solaris', 'Ad Astra', 'Gravity'.