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The Box (2009)
Somewhat intriguing but ultimately flat.
The Box has an intriguing premise. Are we humans selfish enough to take money over someone's life who we probably will never know? I'm sure that thought or a thought similar has been brought up at least one time by all of us personally. What is the worth of one human life? What if you had to make the choice between fortune or the life of another? Which would you pick? While that is an interesting idea or conversation topic, it's hardly a strong enough foundation on which to set a nearly two hour length feature film, and it seems about forty-five minutes or so in the movie, the director figures that out too.
That of course, is not enough to stop the production of The Box, so, he decides to rattle things up a little. Before the movie is over, we see portals to eternal realms, zombie-like humans chasing the characters, and creepy figures stalking characters. While this may make The Box sound fascinating to some, I assure you, while those ideas may work in other science-fiction movies, they make The Box lopsided and uneven, do to the fact that all the before mentioned events only begin to happen in the last forty-five minutes or so.
Sadly, about thirty, give or take, minutes into The Box, it becomes tedious and old. Then it becomes odd, then in the last fifteen minutes, just plain old silly! The movie is also purposely depressing, in fact, The Box tries really hard to make you leave the movie depressed!
The Cast, including the talented Cameron Diaz, is impressive, but there is still something to be desired from their occasionally dry performances. The other significant problem is the pace, which is consistently slow, even in The Box's final moments, and is stretched out for about 115 minutes. There is also a lack of thrills, humor, and character development. The genre is also confusing, it starts out like a mystery/drama, but by the end, turns into a kind of horror/fantasy. Even though it works as a mystery, the rest just feels increasingly far-fetched and ridiculous.
All I can say is, The Box isn't a classic, or barely a movie in that case, just a mere interesting idea. The cast is good, but not always effective, the pace is slow, and the genre is uneven. The Box is also far over length, stretching to nearly two-hours when it could have been shrunk to a ten-minute conversation. Still interested in The Box? Still itching to see if Cameron Diaz gets itchy fingers and presses the button? All I can say to you is, the questions on life's worth I brought up in the beginning, The Box far from answers, or even considers answering.
Another Earth (2011)
The most thoughtful, stirring, beautiful film of the year, and of many years!
Another Earth is a beautifully crafted, visually stunning film that is nearly as deep and emotional as to connect with the human soul. The beauty of Another Earth is the mixture of science fiction, romance, and drama along with an emotional story of tragedy, mixed with a beautiful story a second chances.
What I mean exactly, Rhodda (Brit Marling) causes a tragic car accident which kills a man's pregnant wife and their young child, while she was looking up in the night sky at a newly discovered planet that just came in orbit that can support human life.
While not giving away spoilers, Rhodda, years later after being released from jail, looks up the man who's family she killed and finally works up enough nerve to apologize to him, because she can not live with herself otherwise. After getting to his house and knocking on the door, she lies to him because she lost the nerve, but, after she lies about being a maid, he hires her and they become maybe even friends, or maybe more. On the other hand, Rhodda begins studying the newly discovered planet and finds out you can submit a contest to win a free ticket to "Earth 2".
Combining these stories together, where as most movies would only choose one or the other, make Another Earth infinitely fascinating. Mix in haunting surreal scenes and music of Rhodda looking up in the sky at "Earth 2". Unlike most movies, these scenes stick with you long after you watch Another Earth.
The real element that tops off the rest of Another Earth is the closing scene, while, without revealing the ending, all I can say is I'm convinced they couldn't have ended it any better than they did. It makes you think, perhaps even for days afterward, what it could mean. Once you figure it out, it will change you.
Another Earth won't effect everyone the same way. You have to be an emotionally deep, mature and abstract thinker. Yes, the production quality isn't perfect and the acting doesn't deserve an Oscar (not to say it's bad, because the acting is still very good), Another Earth instead, shaky camera and all, tries to be realistic and perhaps put you in the same situation.
In closing, Another Earth is not your typically predictable tragic car accident tale. It's a step beyond any science fiction movie (or romance, for that matter) has gone before. You will remain haunted by the beautiful images you see, and the music you hear. You will remain spellbound to the screen, rarely bored for even a second, and by the movie's ultimately stunning closing, you will be infinitely speechless and heavy in thought, and shaken deep down until the core of your soul.