By first time director Mike Cahill, this sci-fi indy movie was a hit at Sundance and generated a lot of buzz. Starts William Mapother (Ethan on LOST) and Brit Marling. The movie was co-written by Cahill and Marling. It was made for $200,000.
The story: high school student, Rhoda (Marling) is accept into MIT, but gets into a car accident where she kills a woman and young boy. She is sent to prison. When she gets out she gets a job as a janitor at her old high school and then seeks out John, the man whose wife and son she killed (Mapother). She begins to work for him without telling him who she is, but as they grow closer and closer her guilt grows as well. At the same time, a planet is discovered that is an exact replica of the Earth -- everything from the buildings, to the people, to the history -- everything is an exact replica of this Earth. People begin to communicate with this "other Earth" and plan to fly a space ship out to it. Rhoda wins a spot on the ship, but will she go or will she stay with John and will she tell him she is the one who killed his wife and son?
Was it good?
It was pretty good. For a sci-fi film, there isn't any actual sci- in it. The story focuses on the relationship between Rhoda and John as she begins cleaning his house as a way to deal with her guilt and as they grow closer. The "Other Earth" is mainly a metaphore -- the idea of a second chance, of a life where Rhoda hadn't made that one tragic mistake. This is both the strength and weakness of the movie. The movie isn't really sci-fi -- it's just the story of a woman who caused an accident and then tries to make up for it while not telling the person who she is. It's almost identical to the relationship in THE TOWN (Ben Affleck), MANON OF THE SPRING and countless other movies. And while everything is well done, the realtionships really just hit all the beats you would expect -- the initial lie, growing closer, will he find out, etc. There's just nothing new in the movie, except for that idea of the Other Earth. But since the OA is just a metaphore, it doesn't feel nearly enough.
Still, I thought everything in the movie was well done. This is a slower, more character focused movie, but still enjoyable. Maybe not worth theater prices, but if you are in the mood for more of a character piece, then it can be worth a rental.
If you want something more story to it, I'd recommend THE TOWN over this. In fact, even if you don't want more story, I'd still recommend THE TOWN over this. But if you have already seen THE TOWN, then this movie is worth watching too.
*** RENTAL ****
