by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What is a naked singularity? Sounds scientific. Time to go to physics class and learn a thing or two! But is this new crime comedy related to deep space physics? Literally, no. But thematically, there is an enigmatic character who spouts strange philosophical tidings every time he is on screen… so he has that covered. Thank you, Time Blake Nelson for your endless character work which is always a delight to watch on screen. So, if you are a fan of some existential dialogue and quirky characters, Naked Singularity has you covered!
But what is this film about then?
Star Wars star John Boyega is a down-on-his-luck public defender. He believes in the cause no matter how many feathers he must ruffle. He is certainly not friends with the judge (who he constantly goes head-to-head with). Boyega’s Casi has one (especially) bad day that starts the countdown to The Collapse. What could this ominous day possibly mean? You will have to embark on this crazy adventure to find the extent of how apocalyptic that day is! And we can thank writer-director Chase Palmer for that crazy ride. This is Palmer’s directorial debut, which is a strong effort. You can see the common occurrence of overstuffing the film, but what we do get is entertaining.
Even with a few too many ideas, what does Palmer deliver with his first feature?
Naked Singularity has plenty of broad ideas related to the meaning of life and finding one’s purpose. Palmer channeled similar themes into his previous work on It and The Alienist. Nelson is a conduit to channel these themes, even if they feel a little on point. Besides big ideas, the audience is treated to plenty of crime drama, love, and crazy bursts of criminal violence. It would be too much if the film stayed heady the whole time, right? The tone runs a little wild as things go into the third act with relatively serious first few acts. Katana, tear gas, and cars… oh my! Palmer does a fine job balancing the film, even if it feels a little messy along the way.
How about the group of characters that fill out our cinematic journey?
There are a few characters that really make this experience worth it. The real MVP of the film is the under-appreciated and talented Olivia Cooke. Her acting in this film is moving and committed, and she nails her accent along the way. Lea (Cooke) is a strong woman who has been caught up in the worst of it in life. The connection she builds with Casi is endearing and moving. They share some intimate and emotional moments where Cooke and Boyega’s chemistry shine through. MVP 2.0 is Bill Skarsgard, who is ridiculous in this film. He is a darker and morally devoid version of Boyega who makes some decisions that can be considered brash (to say the least). His Dane is tons of fun every time he is on screen. He captures the manic energy of the character with plenty of zeal. Boyega is a strong lead to anchor the proceedings as well. Ed Skrein is also a solid addition to this film (at least more memorable than Francis in Deadpool).
Is Naked Singularity a strong first outing for a new director?
It is not perfect, but there is plenty to love about the film. There are some on-the-nose themes and a wild-swinging tone that detracts from its quality. The film has plenty of moving parts as well, but luckily those moving parts are tons of fun. The performances and acting make this one worth the viewing. This is a worthwhile feature debut that leaves the door open for Palmer to do even more in the future.
Grade: B