“Mickey 17” is a science-fiction adventure movie released in theaters on March 7. Directed by Bong Joon Ho, the story follows protagonist Mickey Barnes, played by Robert Pattinson, a disposable employee sent on a mission to colonize the ice planet Niflheim.
A striking plot detail throughout this film is the main character’s ability to have a new body regenerated upon his death, with most of his memories still intact. Many different copies of Barnes are shown, and it is observed that each copy has a unique character trait. Pattinson made an outstanding performance in his portrayal of these characters, which, despite their similarities, are distinctly unique.
This film boasts numerous talented actors, such as Mark Ruffalo as Kenneth Marshall, Steven Yeun as Timo and Naomi Ackie as Nasha Barridge. Each actor delivers a stunning performance for their emotionally packed characters.
Another highlight of this film was the idea of a “multiple,” an individual with a separate version of themselves printed without their original body dying. Introducing this inconvenient and life-threatening situation for Barnes greatly enhanced a large portion of this film. Any actor capable of playing two separate characters in a movie alone is an accomplishment in itself, but where Pattinson truly excelled at these roles is the subtly altered personality traits of the two Barnes characters, allowing the clones to stand out from one another.
With a budget of roughly 118 million dollars, this film includes a wide variety of scenes, from the rough environments on Earth through the higher and lower class areas of the spaceship vessel to the icy caves of planet Niflheim. It also extensively uses CGI to depict the frozen planet’s inhabitants.
While this film’s location initially led me to expect a conflict surrounding the humans and the alien inhabitants of Niflheim, the true human against human conflicts proved to be a more thrilling direction for the film. Specifically, Ruffalo’s portrayal of the flamboyant mission leader turned dictator, Kenneth Marshall, was a significant part of this film that truly encapsulated the dystopian lifestyle of those aboard the vessel.
Though this film is packed with thrilling action scenes, it also explores more profound and emotional topics, which can resonate with a broader audience. As Barnes confronts his existential challenges, the film poses intriguing questions regarding one’s memory, purpose and the nature of life and death. This thoughtful and emotional exploration, paired with the stunning visuals and immersive performances, adds a crucial foundation of emotional depth to the film.
Overall, “Mickey 17” is an intense and thrilling film that successfully combines science fiction elements with nuanced scenes that serve great emotional depth. Paired with captivating performances by a talented cast, this film is undeniably worth a watch. I recommend this film to fans of the science fiction genre and films with more complex and philosophical themes.
