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Predestination follows an agent (Ethan Hawke) from an advanced government agency that uses time travel to stop crimes before they occur, something that takes agents back and forth as they track potential criminals. After an incident leaves Hawke's character scarred, he is to be sent on a final mission which is crucial to the continuity of the life he knows.
Despite its seemingly action-oriented premise, this is not that kind of sci-fi film. This is a more slowly paced and cerebral film that takes its time to explore its two main characters, Hawke's agent that goes back to the 1970s to pose as a barkeep, and John, the enigmatic customer that comes to the bar and ends up sharing his life story of how he got where he is. But despite all the twists and turns of the story, it is clear there are other purposes behind.
From the opening shots, it is evident that the Spierig brothers have a good eye for framing and blocking. Their direction is confident and assured, allowing the script and the actors to breathe as the story flows. There is also a certain atmosphere to the story that makes it feel kinda "classy", very "old school" scifi. It is also very pleasing to see a scifi that doesn't rely on bangs and explosions to create a compelling story.
Hawke is pretty good as the agent, but it is Sarah Snook who steals the show with an engaging performance that runs back and forth the spectrum. At one point, Hawke's character describes his mission as a "snake that eats its own tail"; an endless cycle of events that can't be stopped. That is more or less how this film has been circling on my mind ever since I saw it, and that is usually a good sign.
Grade:
PREDESTINATION
(2014, Spierigs)
A sci-fi film
(2014, Spierigs)
A sci-fi film
"The snake that eats its own tail, forever and ever."
Predestination follows an agent (Ethan Hawke) from an advanced government agency that uses time travel to stop crimes before they occur, something that takes agents back and forth as they track potential criminals. After an incident leaves Hawke's character scarred, he is to be sent on a final mission which is crucial to the continuity of the life he knows.
Despite its seemingly action-oriented premise, this is not that kind of sci-fi film. This is a more slowly paced and cerebral film that takes its time to explore its two main characters, Hawke's agent that goes back to the 1970s to pose as a barkeep, and John, the enigmatic customer that comes to the bar and ends up sharing his life story of how he got where he is. But despite all the twists and turns of the story, it is clear there are other purposes behind.
From the opening shots, it is evident that the Spierig brothers have a good eye for framing and blocking. Their direction is confident and assured, allowing the script and the actors to breathe as the story flows. There is also a certain atmosphere to the story that makes it feel kinda "classy", very "old school" scifi. It is also very pleasing to see a scifi that doesn't rely on bangs and explosions to create a compelling story.
Hawke is pretty good as the agent, but it is Sarah Snook who steals the show with an engaging performance that runs back and forth the spectrum. At one point, Hawke's character describes his mission as a "snake that eats its own tail"; an endless cycle of events that can't be stopped. That is more or less how this film has been circling on my mind ever since I saw it, and that is usually a good sign.
Grade: