Photo: Netflix
An official production of the Berlin International Film Festival, Spaceman is the latest Netflix film starring lead actor Adam Sandler. Sandler has appeared in 12 of his Netflix original films as an actor and has also produced several films under his Happy Madison Productions banner.
The film, based on the 2017 novel The Bohemian Cosmonaut by Jaroslav Kalfár, follows Sandler from the Czech countryside and his rise to space to become this country’s most important astronaut ever. He plays the role of aviator Jakub Prochazka.
When a solo mission to a mysterious cloud on the outer edge of Jupiter gives him both a chance to shine in the spotlight to erase his family’s failures and a way to escape his own problems on Earth, he discovers a vast Boldly challenge the unknown world. But in doing so, he leaves behind his devoted wife Lenka (Maestro star Carey Mulligan), who sacrificed her love on the altar of ambition.
Alone in deep space, Jakub discovers a giant alien spider, perhaps imaginary, which becomes his unexpected companion. The two develop an intense emotional bond through philosophical conversations about the nature of love, life and death, and the deliciousness of a hazelnut spread similar to Nutella. Together, they must resolve Jakub’s conflicts in life and love and get back to what matters most before it is too late.
Along with The Sandman and Mulligan, the cast includes Italian acting icon Isabella Rossellini (blue velvet, death becomes her) As Secretary Tuma, big bang theory Kunal Nayyar, Lena Olin (who plays Peter)The unbearable lightness of existence, alias) as Zdena, you are not invited to my bar mitzvah Starring Sonny Sandler, dumb money Paul Dano voices the spider Hanus.
Music video, commercial and episodic television director Johan Renck (Chernobyl) Written by Colby Day, alien It takes us on an introspective journey through the life choices we make and the ripple effects those choices have over time. This film may be compared to more notable versions such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Ad Astra, or the more comedic Defender Your Life. But this movie is far more simplistic and torturous than the others, and that’s a rough way to describe it. Actors like Sandler are the main characters.
This sci-fi drama unfolds over the course of its running time as we learn more about Yakub’s distant relationship with his pregnant wife, his complicated childhood, and the selfish and closed-off tendencies that have plagued him all his life. It feels like the weight is increasing. Playing with subdued tones, measured speech, and dramatic scoring, this movie will recalibrate your mind and expectations for what a movie where Adam Sandler talks to spiders in space would be like. force you to.
alien. Adam Sandler played Jakub in Spaceman. Cr. John Pack/Netflix © 2023.
On the positive side, Lenk’s direction and use of mood and atmosphere prepares him well for life’s challenges ahead. The beauty of the film’s final act is only achieved by ripping the film off its studs and letting Jakub and Hanus’ claustrophobic therapy session seep into our heads and hearts. Lenkka’s abilities extend to the ground as well, and some of her more shocking scenes in her early film performances feature Renkah, played by Carey Mulligan, and the restless Jakub, who desperately tries to coax her back into his orbit. Belongs to more contentious moments with people in her life. , the state of being solved.
However, its content and lack of enforcement could make this much more basic and disposable than its unique story description would lead you to believe. The film feels laborious at times, as it doesn’t delve too deeply into Jakub’s past, passively looking at what Lenka has been trying to find in her husband over the years. . Moments like Lenka walking through the bare buildings of her home, where Jakub spent his childhood, are largely unrecorded as the film relies on flashback snippets to flesh out their history. .
alien. Adam Sandler played Jakub in Spaceman. Powered by Cr. Netflix © 2023.
Unlike eternal sunshineIn , they utilized unique plot devices to truly dissect the moments of the main characters’ lives together, giving us a front row seat to dissecting their relationships. Spaceman feels content as he walks in quiet contemplation, ruminating over meaningless puzzle pieces. It doesn’t come together completely. The film doesn’t have enough substance to support his claims and has the effect of an overextended short film.
whole, alien It has the bones of a good story with a message worth exploring, but (apart from a lot of off-brand Nutella) it doesn’t give viewers enough information to be as memorable as its peers in this subgenre. It hasn’t been done yet. Solid performances by Sandler, Mulligan, and Rossellini, and Paul Dano’s sweet, soothing voice acting as Hanus the Spider, can’t elevate this movie more than enough.
clock alien If you like it, watch it on Netflix
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- ad astra
- protect one’s life
- midnight sky
MVP of alien On Netflix
Paul Dano voices the spider Hanus
One of the great things about this movie is the system that calmly conveys the epiphanies of Sandler’s Jakub character. That system comes in the form of a more whispery but poignant piece from Paul Dano, who voiced Hanus the Spider.
Thanks to Dano’s soft approach, we watch as the alien spider slowly casts its spell, unraveling the mysteries of Jakub’s flaws and fears as he tries to distance himself from the problems he needs to confront most. You can open your heart.
Dano’s scope and presence has slowly and impressively evolved over the years. From early impressive returns in films like Little Miss Sunshine to quick-fire elite supporting performances in classics like There Will Be Blood, Dano continues to evolve. and worked on IP with a large budget (batman) and the big-name directors around him (Fabelmans, Okja). He’s the perfect Swiss Army knife actor who would and should be happy to be used in any movie.
It’s a strange day to say, “I expected more from a serious Adam Sandler movie,” but his track record makes it so. In this unique romantic drama that looks at his life, there’s no backstory or even chemistry to match Sandler’s past success or the fame of his peers.
