Directed By:
Benjamin Cleary
Written By:
Benjamin Cleary
Starring:
Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Glenn Close
Genre:
Drama, Sci-Fi
Rated: R
Cameron (Mahershala Ali), is a loving husband and father who is suddenly diagnosed with a terminal illness. With his second child on the way, he is presented with an alternative solution by his doctor (Glenn Close) to keep living for them via cloning. As Cameron grapples the idea of giving his family to another person– being himself, he also has to look at what it means to truly love someone, and what you would to do save that person from pain?
I’ve been a fan of Mahershala Ali for awhile now and this feels like it could be one of his best performances. Not only playing two identical characters but each having their own motivations and heartache to deal with. The story has some fascinating concepts and ideas that are explored with love rather than your typical “Science Experiment gone wrong” Sci-Fi trope. Glenn Close is excellent as his doctor who introduces him his clone.
She also introduces him to Katie (Awkwafina) who elected to do the same thing. Katie helps to how the process works while being a shoulder to rely on while in the facility based in these beautiful woods. Naomie Harris plays Camerons wife who he is doing this for to cause her no pain in his passing. There is a history there that is explored and Harris does a terrific job of showing why Cameron decided what he did.
The cinematography of the woods is breathtaking. The acting beautiful and with a message that feels heartbreaking but full of pure love. Almost like a ‘Black Mirror’ episode mixed with ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ Overall I think it’s impressive and if you are into Sci-Fi dramas this may be worth exploring.
