AWAY

Hilary Swank     Josh Charles     Talitha Eliana Bateman

Mark Ivanir     Vivian Wu     Ato Essandoh     Adam Irigoyen     Ray Panthaki

     Creators of this remarkable dramatic series on Netflix, Jessica Goldberg and Andrew Hinderaker, deliver such a vivid rendition of a space journey it is hard to believe it’s not real.  But what really elevates it are the just-as-realistic characters and interpersonal relationships and conflicts, both on the ship and at home on the ground, and even back in time.  It makes for high drama in space travel while anchoring the film in plausible, nuanced complexities in human relationships.  

     A diverse group of five astronauts are setting out on a mission to Mars; before them, there have been numerous attempts, but no ship has landed and allowed the crew to walk on the planet.  The Atlas’ commander is the first woman in the role, Emma Green (Swank), who will have to prove her worthiness to be in that position many times during the three years of the mission.  She leaves at home her devoted husband Matt (Charles) and daughter Alexis (Bateman).  It’s noteworthy that Matt was an astronaut in training with Emma, but got disqualified for medical reasons.  He continues to work at NASA headquarters, and will be significant in problem solving and direction of the project.  His support of his wife all during the flight is exemplary, and serves as a model for husbands/fathers who are married to wives in the limelight.

     In addition to Emma, other astronauts include: Russian Misha (Ivanir) who feels he’s better qualified to be Commander by virtue of his experience; Chinese Yu (Wu), a chemist who initially sides with Misha and is regarded as cold; Indian Ram (Panthaki), second in command and an early supporter of Emma; and Kwesi (Essandoh), the least experienced and most religious, having lost his parents in Ghana and then adopted by a Jewish family. 

     The number of themes in Away speak to the quality of the writing; they are all substantive and add to the excitement of the drama. Tensions are highlighted between the pulls of family and adventure/career; parenting issues that arise constantly between the parent onboard and the child at home, between the spouse at home and the child; and in the childhood backgrounds of all the astronauts.  Physical illness and disability crop up among those on the ship and those at home; emergencies in health and on ship are ongoing; and foolish decisions—even those made out of altruism—are called into question.  Death is focused on in a number of settings/circumstances in a way that is encouraging.  To the film’s credit, all of these result in insights that are inspiring and move the story along.

     Hilary Swank as the star comes into her own in continuing a long career in playing strong, inspiring women who can be respected and admired.  In this, she is head of a proven elite team who meets her mark, but is still shown to be compassionate, empathic, and a nurturing parent with a close bond to her daughter.  Josh Charles has an array of good roles and good acting to his credit, and perhaps this film will serve as one that plays to all his strengths in depicting a male character showing three-dimensionality in being an aggressive leader, a protector, and a nurturing father.  All the other main actors—Ivanir, Essandoh, Panthaki, and Wu—are perfect in fulfilling their roles.  Talitha Eliana Bateman as Matt’s and Emma’s daughter should be given a shout-out, along with her boyfriend played by Adam Irigoyen, and her caretaker during her parents’ absence, Melissa, played by Monique Gabriela Curnen.  

     This Netflix series has much more to do with human beings and their relationships than it does with space exploration, although that aspect is certainly in the forefront and just as exciting as those that have gone before.  

Take this journey into space and experience the thrills, chills, and utterly human conditions that move us all forward in life.

Grade: A                                    By Donna R. Copeland

LOVE, SIMON

Nick Robinson     Josh Duhamel     Jennifer Garner     Talitha Bateman

Katherine Langford     Alexandra Shipp     Logan Miller     Kelynan Lonsdale     Jorge Lendeborg, Jr.

    Unlike many films about teens, Love, Simon is mostly a realistic portrayal, with occasional gems of wisdom about how people in general think, act, and feel.  Simon (Robinson) is an appealing teenager with good friends, a wholesome family life, and enough talent to stand out in a crowd.  He has been brought up well, and only occasionally displays the sulk American adolescents are known for.  But, he is coming to the realization that he is attracted to boys and doesn’t quite know what to do about it.

   Enter a clueless wannabe Martin (Miller), who gains access to Simon’s personal information and proceeds to blackmail Simon, manipulating him to get a girl for Martin.  This will be matchmaking hell for Simon, but he is naïve and thinks he can pull it off—just to keep his secret, secret.

     Added to this scenario, are pictures of high school in general—hallway encounters, the cafeteria, the school play, and parties.  Based on a book by Becky Albertalli, a clinical psychologist whose experience includes a specialty in children and teens and work in a high school, it comes across as plausible and a perceptive understanding of life in that realm.  Screenwriters Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker seem to have preserved many of the basic ideas, although I have a hunch that some scenes/characters were add-ons, such as the goofus vice principal (parody of a fool) and the sweet reveal and tie-up-with-a-bow ending.

     The director, Greg Berlanti, and screenwriters have a background in producing and writing for television, and in some ways, Love, Simon resembles a television program or series more than a feature film.  That is a way of saying that the story is delightfully entertaining, although it has “bite” as well in its observations about teens and high school life and the profound experience of facing/establishing one’s identity.  A special treat is seeing Simon trying to identify his anonymous correspondent on social media.  He makes the same mistakes that many of us have in trying to decide whether an acquaintance or friend is gay.

     Nick Robinson is well cast as Simon, with just the right balance of naïveté, trust, skepticism, and doubt in a coming-of-age teenager.  With his success in The Kings of Summer, he should have a bright future.  Other standouts among the teens are Katherine Langford as Leah, Simon’s life-long friend; Alexandra Shipp, the precocious sex symbol; and Logan Miller as the cringe-worthy budding sociopath.  Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel handle the not particularly challenging roles of mother and father to Simon.

     This is a film that will appeal to those interested in expanding their tolerance and understanding of alternative identities that go beyond simply male and female. 

A budding romance a little outside the norm.

Grade:  B+                        By Donna R. Copeland