DVD Corner

Another Earth Blu-ray Review

“Another Earth” wastes a fascinating premise.

The plot: A young woman’s (Rhoda) bright future is shattered when she gets in a car accident that kills a wife and child (the father survives). After spending 4 years in jail for the accident, Rhoda is released into a world she feels disconnected with. Luckily for her, a mirror planet Earth (known as Earth 2) has just been discovered. Earth 2 apparently even has another one of everyone on Earth. As if on cue, it is also announced there is a contest to take a trip to Earth 2. Naturally, Rhoda decides to enter the contest. While the contest is going on, Rhoda takes an interest in the man’s life she essentially ruined. Rhoda manages to wiggle her way into the father’s life without him knowing she is respobsible for his family member’s deaths. What will happen when the father finds out who Rhoda is? Who will win the trip to Earth 2? Can these people’s lives change for the better?

“Another Earth” takes a truly thought provoking concept and squanders it. Rather than focusing on the mirror Earth idea, it is treated as nothing more than a plot device/side note. Instead, viewers are forced to endure a “dramatic character study” that resembles a Lifetime movie or a soap opera drama.

Equally problematic is the structure of the film. The first half plays like a quick cut music video with dialogue free scenes and rushed scene transitions. Thankfully, the movie slows down around the midway mark to actually develop the characters. Unfortunately, by the time things actually get interesting, the movie is over leaving you frustrated that we don’t get to see what we have waited for for 92 minutes.

As for the cast, I can’t say I understand the praise newcomer Brit Marling (Rhoda) is getting here. For the most part, she acts like an emotionless mumbling zombie (even if her character is meant to be cold and numb). William Mapother of “Lost” fame, however, is the sole highlight here as the mourning father. It’s nice to see him get some more work as he is rather underrated.

Summary: “Another Earth” could have been a unique and rewarding film, but instead it’s a missed opportunity.

Video/Audio:

The 1.85:1 1080p picture quality is so-so. The film doesn’t really benefit from being in hi-def because of how cheap the movie tends to look. The grainy cinematography isn’t exactly “Tree Of Life” quality here as the colors are generally pretty muted.

The 5.1 DTS-HD audio track has minimal noise. This is a pretty quiet film and there’s not much going on audio wise.

Extras:
* DVD and Digital Copy.
* Fox trailers, “Another Earth” trailer and soundtrack information.
* 2 free downloadable songs from the band Fall On Your Sword.
* Music video for Fall On Your Sword’s “The First Time I Saw Jupiter”.
* 7 deleted scenes.
* “Fox Movie Channel Presents: Direct Effect Mike Cahill”- Director Mike Cahill talks about the story, the charcters, shooting the film, and so forth.
* “Fox Movie Channel Presents: In Character With Brit Marling and William Mapother”- Two featurettes in which the actress and actor talk about their roles and acting. Brit also talks about co-writing the script as well.

*”Creating Another Earth”- Mike Cahill and Brit Marling talk
about how the film got made, behind-the-scenes stories, etc.
* “The Science Behind Another Earth”- Dr. Richard Berendzen, Mike Cahill and Brit Marling briefly chat about multiverses.

December 20, 2011 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Another Earth Blu-ray Review, Brit Marling, William Mapother