SiftPop

by Shane Conto

Where has George Clooney been? Clooney has not starred in the film since 2016’s Money Monster (with a small detour on Hulu’s Catch-22). He also hasn’t directed a film since bringing the Coen’s Suburbicon to life which turned out to be quite disappointing. But what would bring him back to behind the camera and in front of it? How about a beautiful genre story ripped from the pages of Lily Brooks-Dalton’s novel ‘Good Morning, Midnight’? The Midnight Sky is certainly the most ambitious of Clooney’s ventures into directing with big space set pieces and a trek through the Arctic Circle. That’s right…both in the same movie!

Can Clooney return to the director’s chair and deliver the goods with this ambitious sci-fi story?

He certainly does his darnedest! There is plenty of story and moving pieces for Clooney to navigate with this film. He takes the more methodical root in terms of bringing it to life. Yes…this film definitely takes its swell ole time. The pacing might be too slow for some, but it does allow the film to flesh out one of its biggest strengths: it’s emotional poignancy. Clooney, both behind and in front of the camera, packs this film full of emotion. This is a genre film that boasts strong effects but really focuses on the human pain of the characters’ struggles. Speaking of the effects, there might be a few obvious green-screen but the spaceship is quite impeccable. The trickiest aspect of the film is the storytelling. There are three separate focal points to the story and the balancing act becomes lopsided which leaves some characters and plot threads M.I.A. for too long.

Speaking of the story…what is it about?

Clooney portrays a famous scientist (with cancer) who is left alone in an Arctic laboratory after an apocalyptic occurrence on Earth. He soon finds a silent yet expressive young girl who ventures with him into the tundra to reach a satellite so he can warn an incoming space crew to avoid coming home. On this ship, you have a pregnant couple and three other astronauts who all have their own baggage and hopes. Throw in a few flashbacks to a younger scientist as well as a trippy revelation that pulls it altogether in an unexpected way and you have quite the film! Honestly…probably too much for this particular film. The segments with Clooney and his endearing connection to this young girl is by far the strongest part. This film could have just been their adventure in the tundra. Not that the space aspects are bad but they are much more cliched and derivative comparatively. 

But what makes those scenes with the scientist and his new little friend so much better?

The performances hands down have plenty to do with that. Clooney is moving and powerful with his vulnerability, failing spirits, and perseverance. Clooney is a class A actor and he proves it in The Midnight Sky. The biggest surprise of the film is the quiet range and engrossing demeanor of the young actress, Caoilinn Springall. She is talented beyond her years and is a real standout in the film. All the astronauts get a chance to shine with Felicity Jones taking center stage. Kyle Chandler and Demian Bichir inject plenty of personality to their smaller supporting roles. Overall, the cast do a really fine job with what they are given. 

Seems like plenty of ups and downs, right?

But is it worth the streaming on Netflix? I think that depends on what type of sci-fi you want. If you are ready for a deeply personal story with some flair of big budget affairs, this one’s for you. If you want something fast and adrenaline packed, this one is certainly not that. This one has plenty going for it so light the fuse and take in the slow burn. 

Grade: B-