The Shimmering

Book one of Jeff VanderMeer’s best-selling ‘Southern Reach’ trilogy gets adapted to the big screen in ‘Annihilation.’  When I first saw the mysterious trailer of this movie I knew I have to see it no matter what.  Not having read the books, I figured the chances of disappointment are low as my mind is untainted by any preconceptions or spoilers (I was disappointed with Spielberg’s ‘Jurassic Park’ because I read the Crichton novel right before I saw the movie).

 

‘Annihilation’ is one of those daringly bold and weirdly disturbing films that’s best left to the viewers to individually experience.  Suffice it to say that (and this is nothing you won’t already have surmised from its trailer) the movie is about a small group of women who venture into a strange place characterized by “unnatural” phenomena.  I want to simplify and say this movie is like ‘The X-Files’ meets ‘Lost’ meets ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ meets ‘Altered States’ meets ‘Arrival’ meets ‘Under the Dome’ and whatever else ‘Annihilation’ brings to mind at one time or another throughout its many head-scratching WTF moments, but that wouldn’t be fair or do justice to it because it’s rather unique and unlike anything we’ve seen before.  Unconventional and anti-mainstream to the core, this film is bound to provoke reactions and make us ponder its implications and significance.

 

‘Annihilation’ is only Alex Garland’s second feature as director following his excellent and thought-provoking ‘Ex Machina,’ but you can’t tell from watching the movie which only attests to his singular talent.  Natalie Portman also delivered a quiet and subtle performance as the main protagonist in the tale, a biology professor who needed every ounce of toughness borne out of her military experience while exploring the mysterious, spooky and unforgiving region known as “Area X.” 

Grade: A

Black Panther Movement

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s latest release is ‘Black Panther,’ right in time for Black History Month.  To be honest, I was a bit concerned that BP would splutter at the box office not because of the character’s skin color but because, let’s face it, BP just isn’t one of Marvel’s better known superheroes.  It turns out that my fears are unfounded since BP has raked in over $700 million worldwide ($354 million domestic) after just two weekends, breaking not only the color barrier but also setting all kinds of box office records.  Part of the reason for this is that the film has drawn moviegoers who don’t typically go to superhero movies.  Why do I think that?  Because at the showing I went to most of the people left the auditorium before the final credits have rolled, missing out on the mid- and post-credit sequences.

 

Chadwick Boseman first appeared as BP in ‘Captain America: Civil War’ on the right side as part of Team Captain America against Iron Man’s crew.  As you’ll recall his father (then king of Wakanda) perished in a terrorist attack in that movie.  BP picks up where CA:CW left off as Boseman’s T’Challa picked up his father T’Chaka’s mantle as the new King of Wakanda after proving himself in ritual combat.  However, his authority is further challenged by none other than N’Jadaka aka Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan, after a brief stint as the FF’s Human Torch), who wants to use Wakanda’s heretofore hidden advanced technology to empower oppressed colored people around the world in an armed uprising a la’ Malcolm X to oppose T’Challa’s MLK.

 

Timely and socially relevant, BP is not just another typical superhero tent-pole movie, even though it has all the markings of one.  Anchored by the charismatic Boseman and Michael B. Jordan and helmed by one of Hollywood’s finest young directors, Ryan Coogler (‘Fruitvale Station,’ ‘Creed’), BP proved once again that Disney and Marvel can make tons of money on movies about almost anybody even if they safely tread familiar territory.

Grade: A-