The Midnight Sky movie review by Movie Review Mom

MOVIE TITLE: The Midnight Sky

Available in some theaters on December 11, 2020. Released on streaming on Netflix on December 23, 2020.

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 2 hours, 2 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B

IN A NUTSHELL:

This dramatic sci-fi takes us on a journey through time and space in a post-apocalyptic world. George Clooney acts and directs the movie, describing it as a mixture between The Revenant and Gravity, explaining, They’re not natural fits, so it was a constant balancing act.” It’s based on the book Good Morning, Midnight: A Novel by Lily Brooks Dalton. The movie has nothing to do with Miley Cyrus’ new song Midnight Sky

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Some profanity and an F-bomb.
People in perilous situations.
Kids are going to be bored.
There’s a scene with a lot of blood.
Death

THEMES:

Terminal illness
Life and death
Absentee parenting
Hope
Family
Parenting
Sacrifice

THINGS I LIKED:

As mentioned, George Clooney directed and starred in the movie. He actually lost 30 pounds and was hospitalized for pancreatitis for this melancholy role after only filming 4 days.
The talented cast also includes Felicity Jones and David Oyelowo. It’s a shame that Felicity Jones and David Oyelowo didn’t have that much to do considering what great actors they are.
The CGI is really stunning.
The cinematography is awe-inspiring and elegant. Because of the vastness of space and the scenes in the snowy landscapes, try to see it on the biggest screen you can.
I thought the video game that Kyle Chandler was playing looked really fun. I’ve never thought he was a very compelling actor, but he actually did a great job in this film.
Caoilinn Springall is adorable as Iris.
The song Sweet Caroline will always add energy to a room or film. (This movie needed a dose.)
The musical score created a nice background and was never overbearing, like some movies about space can be.
The trailer doesn’t give away any spoilers.
The locations feel real and lived in.
There is an interesting twist.
It brings the feels in compelling ways.
I read that they filmed the snowy scenes in Iceland and had to go inside every few minutes to warm up because it was soooo cold.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The film’s ideas, story, and even visuals are often borrowed from other movies and it feels like it. Because of that, the movie is a bit messy and predictable.
A lot of time is spent in the beginning watching George Clooney get sick to establish his character’s situation. Kids will tune out immediately.
There is some jumping back and forth in time, which might confuse some viewers. As a result, the narrative feels a bit choppy.
Because of the length of this movie, you feel exhausted, waiting for something to happen.
If you’re waiting for more information about what kick-started the apocalypse in this movie, you’ll be disappointed. It’s not really the point of the movie.
The dialogue feels more like exposition than genuine communication.
There is no bridge that transitions some scenes with other ones. They don’t make any sense until you get the twist at the very, very end of the movie.