Predestination

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Noah Taylor, Christopher Kirby
Directed by: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Science Fiction
2015

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A time traveling agent (Ethan Hawke) goes back in time to stop a mysterious terrorist who has eluded capture for decades.

Review:

Tim: Predestination is one of the craziest, mind-bending, unexpected, wonderfully complex films I have seen in a long, long time. I loved this movie. The term "mind blowing" is certainly overused when describing movies, but this film deserves that adjective. The Spierig Brothers bring intelligence to this complicated script, delivering a film that is powerful and memorable.

Time travel is a fascinating subject, especially when you start to envision how easily things can go awry. You have the grandfather paradox, the consistent casual loop paradox, etc. Many times, a film will hint at or dip a toe into these waters. Most films don't fully submerge themselves because the more you think about it, the more none of it makes sense. Time travel and the implications of that very easily start to boggle the mind. Predestination has no qualms will not only fully submerging itself, but diving just about as deep as it can go. This movie fully embraces the insanity of time travel and it's a wonderful, crazy ride. I would love to go into the intricacies of the plot- I've spent a considerable amount of time thinking through it. Unfortunately, I don't want to spoil anything about it. Let's just say it takes some of the greatest questions about time travel and weaves them into this exciting, unexpected story that holds its greatest reveals until the very end.

Ethan Hawke is very good in the lead role. His performance isn't overtly amazing- on the surface, it feels like another solid performance from Hawke, but nothing special. However, he does some things subtly that create a bond with the audience. He manages to perfectly balance mysteriousness with a valid emotional connection so that you actually care about his character and want answers to your questions. It is easy to say, hard to do, and I give Hawke credit. However, I have to bow down in awe of Sarah Snook. I can't go into too much detail, but I have no idea how she managed to pull off such a stunning performance. She was asked to do so much and the majority of the movie depended on us believing her and her transformation. Her performance is a revelation and one of the most impressive I've seen in a long time. She absolutely makes this movie and is the best member of the cast.

One aspect I loved about this film is that it manages to find this perfect balance between asking questions and answering questions. In an attempt to be mysterious, some movies hold all the answers until the end. That can ruin the viewing experience, because you're just confused and feel like you've been kept in the dark. Far too many movies make a mistake on the other end of the spectrum- let's dumb everything down and reveal too much too soon, so the movie is predictable. Predestination delivers exactly what you want- enough answers to our questions to give us a sense of progress and momentum, while making sure the answers you do get whet your appetite for the ones being withheld. As I watched this movie, I became more and more engrossed, feeling a stronger and stronger pull to understand what I was watching. That translates into a compelling film and one of the more enjoyable experiences I've had in a while.

I want to talk more specifics, but the very nature of this film requires maintaining the surprise. I went into this film not really knowing what to expect and was blown away as pieces started to fall into place. It's still early, but I can't imagine Predestination not making my top 10 films of 2015. This movie is that damn good.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Daybreakers, Ex Machina