by Jack Grimme, Contributing Writer
Biosphere stars Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass as two lifelong friends who, due to ambiguous circumstances, are the last people on a dying Earth. The pair live in the titular biosphere with a couple of fish and a whole lot of free time. The story finds them searching for humanity’s next steps as they slowly learn that nature isn’t as concrete or predictable as they originally believed. The film is the feature length directorial debut of Mel Eslyn, who also co-wrote the script with Duplass. Biosphere mixes elements of sci-fi and romance with a hint of comedy, and a deep philosophical conversation about the fluidity of gender and identity. It certainly isn’t my favorite film of the year so far, but there are commendable attributes that merit discussion.
Performances are obviously fundamental to the success of any movie. When you have a large cast of actors, the responsibility is divided enough to make some shortcomings a little less detrimental. In a project with two performers, the leads must be at the top of their game. Fortunately, I’m not sure Brown could turn in a bad performance if he wanted to. His character is witty and charismatic but reserved for reasons that are revealed in the latter half of the story. I was genuinely impressed by the effort he brought to this small project. Unfortunately, Duplass’ performance isn’t quite as convincing. Admittedly though, he is asked to do quite a bit more here than his costar. And there are a handful of scenes where his talents shine, and his chemistry with Brown is apparent. However, overall I felt like he is not the right fit for the character, and that he roots his character in a different place tonally than the rest of the film, which feels a little stiff.
I also want to commend this film for bravely attacking some complex issues. I won’t spoil anything, because I went into the film blind, and was truly surprised by the twists and turns. I will say that they champion some progressive ideas about identity that, while not handled perfectly, could be impactful to many people. They also don’t back down from the message, and go to shocking lengths to develop the idea. Many moments are uncomfortable and on the nose, but they still challenge the audience to reflect on personal hangups they may have regarding sex and gender.
While there are parts of this movie that kept me engaged, the endeavor as a whole just doesn’t land. The dramatic and comedic elements are very muddled in a way that just left me confused. “Should I laugh here?” “Is it bad that I am laughing here?” “Am I laughing with them or at them?” These are just a handful of questions that you may find yourself asking throughout the runtime. The actual details of the apocalypse are also too ambiguous to add any real meaning. There are some moments where the answers are teased, but we’re largely left in the dark. I don’t need everything spelled out for me, but I do think they should give a little bit more so the audience can really digest the meaning of this hypothetical reality on its own terms.
Finally, the real dagger is that the bulk of the film feels boring and bland. They could’ve shaved off 20 minutes of B-roll footage and had the exact same story. Stones are left unturned and concepts are left underdeveloped. The larger revelations and developments aren’t nearly rewarding enough to justify the time investment. I’ll admit, the film is an interesting thought experiment. It boldly addresses the ever-evolving topics of gender identity and self-expression. And while it may not have connected with me, I hope it finds an audience, because there is clear creativity and effort behind the scenes.
Rating: Didn’t Like It
Biosphere is currently playing in theaters
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