Every once in a while a movie grabs you and doesn’t let go. biosphere is one of those movies. Written by the creative Mark Duplass (fluffy chair, baotou) and Mel Eslyn, who also directed, biosphere Part buddy movie, part dystopian comedy, it’s an all-encompassing experience that’s as philosophical as it is entertaining.
The story finds Billy (Duplass) and Ray (Sterling K. Brown) as the last two people on Earth. They were lifelong friends, braved political office together and apparently braved the end of the world. Their survival is largely in Ray’s hands. He was a brilliant scientist who designed the domed structure they had been around for a while. There’s a sustainable vegetation system, a fish pond, timed lighting, and plenty of debate about Super Mario Bros. After all, these are two good friends worth talking about.
At this point, things take a strange turn and a green dot appears outside the biosphere. What will it be? But that ended up being the least of their worries.
life eventually finds a way
best to think biosphere As a “sci-fi fable” set in the not-too-distant future. Longtime Producer Mel Eslynthe person i love) added an effective charming lightness to the story, which turned out to be – Surprise! – A curious exploration of gender, love, sexuality, love, and the human capacity to change and evolve.
Billy was once the president of the United States, and Ray was his chief adviser. In fact, scientist Ray built the biosphere they now inhabit, and appears to be more grounded than his counterparts. The film is gritty for the first 20 minutes, but by 30 minutes it takes a surprising (if not creative) turning point that sets the stage for the rest of the film and the events and decisions that follow. All of this revolves around a major event in the biosphere.
You see, the fish are starting to die at an alarming rate. There are only three fish left. But what is it? One of the males has changed sex. It seems that “life”, nature – whatever you want to call it – has somehow found a way to sustain life. The truth is, the gender switch affected Billy and Ray so much that it started changing the dynamic of their relationship.
Why? Well, it’s best to experience it all for yourself. It was a bold move by Duplass and Aisling that finally paid off, though what follows may divide viewers. This is not a bad thing. If anything, the film provoked a lot of thought.
action in the biosphere
One thing’s for sure, Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown knows how to outshine Randall, a character he embodies perfectly in the film this is us. Brown is one of the best actors of his generation, and his creative spirit fully embodies the characters he plays. It’s rare for an actor to keep his performances solid, and here, it’s all on display. The man, so to speak, did not summon it.
There’s a moment in the middle of the movie where Ray emotionally suggests to Billy that there might be more to their shared experience. This “something more” relies heavily on the nuances of life itself, and at first Ray doesn’t even consider Billy’s suggestion. Again, it’s better to experience it yourself than to read about it here.
Duplass is always on point and ready for a challenge, but his performance is excellent, showing Billy’s sudden vulnerability and newfound curiosity about the future. These two actors play well with each other, creating an interesting but unbelievable dynamic. Duplass and his brother Jay (the duo at the helm of Duplass Brothers Productions) know how to reach into the human heart.most of their other movies like fluffy chair, cyrus, and jeff, live at home Not limited to such a small space. Fortunately, there’s enough of the interior to explore without making the movie too claustrophobic.
Also enjoy the absurdity of the plot twists. It managed to drive that effort through to the end. The last 20 minutes of the film may need more time, maybe another 10 minutes or so to see how things go. That doesn’t spoil the whole movie, because all we’re left with is wanting more. If that’s the point, then Duplass and Aisling got it right. That green dot we saw earlier could also be emphasized more. But what we see and know about the outside world should suffice.
Interesting fact: Duplass and Aisling hired trans artist/producer Zachary Drucker as a creative partner and producer. It’s a nice addition because it grounds the theme of biotransformation – no big deal for two male fish, but what if it becomes a problem for the last two men on earth? And if so? to this end, biosphere One of the best films of the season, thought provoking, well timed and engaging.
biosphere, from IFC Films will be in theaters and VOD on July 7.
