Oct 6 2013 – The level of complexity needed to effectively master this genre and make true believers out of your audience is no easy feat. technical wizardry notwithstanding, today’s Sci-fi devotees are well versed in the intricacies of deep space exploration, course correction sub-plots, and the vernacular between the orbiting crew and mission control that retention begins to wane at the slightest misstep. Thus, the Sci-fi bar is set exceedingly high for those directors brave enough to jettison into such potent environs.
Director, Sebastian Cordero, and writer Philip Gelatt, have set a course with Europa Report that seldom falters. With a medley of standout performances, technical wizardry and intelligence pacing, the visual splendour and dark undercurrents of this planetary expedition stands to make many who watch, true believers.
Europa Report takes the basic premise of man’s exploration of deep space, introduces the found-footage subplot then retools the narrative to create an intimate and unnerving odyssey that continues to mine the dark reaches of space. Through the narration of Dr. Samantha Unger (Embeth Davidtz), CEO of Europa Ventures, we are informed that the mission we are watching – a voyage to one of Jupiter’s moons to confirm the presence of water beneath the icy surface has ended in tragedy. For Dr. Unger, the answer to one simple but loaded question is . . . What happened?
The event logs in the form of found-footage is how the story unfolds with Monday morning quarterbacking from mission control liberally interspersed between the fast-forward and play footage. The creative use of multi-segment live-cams with hyper-quick edits provides granular perspectives of the space station’s environment further reinforcing its cramped realities. Mission control struggles to understand not only the plight of this talented crew but the decisions they made that lead to this. Kudos to Cordero for the useful way he incorporated archival footage of uber astrophysicist and science communicator Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and his discussions about ice fishing on Europa. This multi-year mission was led by an ensemble international crew including, team commander William Xu (Daniel Wu), Drs. Katya Petrovna (Karolina Wydra) and Daniel Luxembourg (Christian Amargo), along with engineers, Andrei Blok (Michael Nyqvist) and James Corrigan (Sharlto Copley) and pilot Rosa Dasque (Amamaria Marinca).
Cordero shies away from the formulaic flag waving space clowns of mainstream Hollywood Sci-fi (such as Armageddon) in favour of a more disciplined, introspective, fully formed crew. In a word – they’re real. Realer still is the isolation the crew feels when the communication uplink to earth is severed making the all or nothing decision to touch down on Europa even more perilous.
By the third act, this compelling Sci-fi resets once more into psychological thriller territory that re-ignites our suspense while maintaining a cool and collected tone. Never over reaching with excessive CGI inspired trickery, Cordero’s decision to stay low tech and clever is the winning combination for this thinking man’s Sci-fi.
Verdict: 4 out of 5: For the crew of Europa, the answers to: who are we? why are we here? are we alone, and more importantly, does life exist on Europa? – are the cornerstones of their exploration. Philip Gelatt’s strong screenplay provides clear vantage points from which audiences can observe the slow descent of this fatal crew. For space enthusiasts, Cordero’s direction will be a refreshing departure from years of mindless shock inspired space folly we are constantly subjected to. This stripped down, measured and highly entertaining Sci-fi will win you over by design.
Final Thought: This report is an ethereal study in space.
Genre: Sci-fi / Thriller
Director: Sebastian Cordero
Writer: Philip Gelatt (Screenplay)
Language: English
Release Date: June, 2013
Country: USA
Runtime: 97 minutes
Cast: Sharlto Copley, Michael Nyqvist, Christian Camargo, Embeth Davidtz, Anamaria Marinca, Daniel Wu, karolina Wydra, Dan Fogler, Isiah Whitlock Jr.
