FILM REVIEW: Mickey 17 raises interesting questions about mortality, identity and colonialism
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OSCAR-WINNING director Bong Joon-ho returns with the daringly ambitious , a sci-fi adventure that blends dark comedy with cutting satire into a thought-provoking social commentary.
Adapted from the novel by Edward Ashton, is nothing if not original. Set in the distant future, our protagonist Micky Barnes reluctantly enlists as an ‘Expendable’ on a space-faring voyage to colonise a distant ice-planet. Expendables are tasked with carrying out all of the most dangerous jobs and when they inevitably die, a clone of their body is reprinted with their memories intact, ready for the next job, and so the process repeats in a miserable cycle.
However, when Mickey’s 70th iteration comes face-to-face with his successor (Mickey 18), the entire operation begins to derail. As I said, this film is nothing if not original, but originality doesn’t always guarantee quality.
Robert Pattinson stars as the eponymous Mickey, faced with the daunting task of having to play multiple versions of the same character, each with subtle changes in personality. Though it is no easy task, Pattinson masterfully realises each regeneration in a unique style, creating two individual and clearly defined characters. This impressive feat of acting is reminiscent of Tom Hardy’s work in , where he portrayed London’s notorious Kray twins.
A definite scene-stealer is Mark Ruffalo, who plays Kenneth Marshall, a self-obsessed politician who, for all his self-obsession, seems to lack any self-awareness. Coated in a painfully obvious layer of fake-tan and sporting ridiculous hair, there are no prizes for guessing which controversial world leader the character is inspired by. While his performance is certainly over the top and at times risks becoming pantomime, Ruffalo is clearly relishing the opportunity to play a villain you love to hate. Alongside Ruffalo is Toni Collette as Marshall’s equally egotistical wife Ylfa. Combined, the two make for a loathsome couple, whose demise audiences will no doubt be praying for.
An open mind is definitely needed if you intend watching . If you can see past the fantastical scenarios and alien creatures, you will find a story that raises interesting questions about mortality, identity and colonialism. Not only that, but the film also explores the ethics of advanced technology and asks us to consider when does technology go too far. Though these themes are profound, the film can at times be heavy-handed when dealing with them and comes across as lecturing rather than engaging. Furthermore, the film often loses focus and seems to meander around unnecessary sub-plots, inflating the run-time to well over two hours. I couldn’t help but feel that a shorter, more refined screenplay would have benefited this film greatly. That being said, I would still recommend watching just be sure to keep an open mind.
