It has been a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to the science fiction genre this year... but amongst the films that have not been so great have been some real gems.
Ex Machina
Sci-fi is one of my favourite film genres and we take a look at the movies that you really should have seen this year. Which has been your favourite?
- Ex Machina
It was back in January when Ex Machina hit the big screen and it remains not only one of the best science fiction films of 2015, but one of the best films period.
Alex Garland is best-known for penning the screenplays for 28 Days Later..., Sunshine, Never Let Me Go, and Dredd and this movie saw him make the leap into the director's chair for the first time. However, Garland has not walked away from writing as he has also penned the film's screenplay.
For me, Ex Machina is one of the best directorial debuts of 2015 and I cannot wait to see what Garland does next and how he develops as a filmmaker; I think it's fair to say that he is going to be a talent to keep an eye on over the next couple of years.
The movie follows Caleb (Gleeson), a 24-year-old coder at the world's largest internet company, wins a competition to spend a week at a retreat belonging to the company's reclusive CEO, Nathan (Isaac).But when Caleb arrives, he finds that he will have to participate in a fascinating experiment with the world's first true artificial intelligence, housed in the body of a beautiful robot woman, Ava (Vikander). Truths, emotions, and motives are blurred as the relationship between Caleb, Ava and Nathan intensifies
Garland explores some interesting themes and ideas in a film that engages from start to finish. Garland has stuck the perfect balance between entertaining and asking questions of the audience. Did I mention that the film is also visually stunning?
Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, and Domhnall Gleeson are three of the most exciting actors around and they all deliver wonderful and incredibly complex performances. Vikander is the standout as you think you have Ava sussed before she surprises you and takes you in a completely different and unexpected direction.
The movie opened to critical acclaim - playing successfully on the festival circuit at the end of 2014 - and made back it's $15 million budget with a box office haul of $36 million.
Ex Machina has dominated the recent British Independent Film Awards, scooping Best British Independent Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Outstanding Achievement in Craft for the visual effects. I would love to see this movie feature heavily during the awards season and be in the Oscar mix come the beginning of next year.
- The Martian
Of course, not all the sci-fi films that have been released this year have been small independent films as The Martian has been one of the biggest.
The Martian was one of the films that I was really looking forward to this year and it was a movie that well and truly did not disappoint. The Martian is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Andy Weir and marked the return of Ridley Scott to the director's chair and the sci-fi genre.
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. However, Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meagre supplies, Watney must draw upon his ingenuity, wit, and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring 'the Martian' home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return.
The Martian is a very faithful adaptation of Weir's book and is a smart, funny and action-packed movie - as well as looking terrific. Matt Damon is perfectly cast in the central role of Watney as he captures the resolve and strength of this character as well as his desolation and loneliness.
Ridley Scott is a bit of a pro when it comes to sci-fi films and he has delivered a film that really celebrated the fighting spirit of the human race and the thrill of space exploration.
The Martian was an enormous critical and commercial hit when The Martian was released back in September. The film went on to gross over $573.3 million worldwide and is one of the highest grossing movies of the year. The film is tipped to be in the Oscar mix when the nominations are announced at the beginning of 2016.
- The Lobster
The Lobster was one of the less mainstream sci-fi films of the year and caused a splash when it competed for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year - it has gone on to have a great run on the festival circuit.
The Lobster, which combines elements of comedy and drama with science fiction, marked the English-speaking debut of filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, who also teamed up with Efthimis Filippou to pen the film's screenplay.
The Lobster is a love story set in the near future, when single people, according to the rules of The City, are arrested and transferred to The Hotel. There they are obliged to find a matching mate in 45 days. If they fail, they are transformed into an animal of their choosing and released into The Woods. A desperate Man escapes from The Hotel to The Woods where The Loners live, and he falls in love, although it is against The Loner's rules.
A great cast was assembled for the film as Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman, Ashley Jensen, John C. Reilly, Ben Whishaw, and Lea Seydoux were just some of the names that were on board. The movie was met with acclaim and went on to win the Jury Prize at Cannes.
The Lobster is a truly unique film experience and is unlike any other sci-fi film that you will have seen this year. It is a very ambitious film but Lanthimos really does pull it off in fine style - it is great to see him making the leap into English speaking films.
I can understand why it has been a divisive film and this really will not be for everyone, but I loved the dry and black humour that is dotted throughout.
The Lobster was nominated for seven British Independent Film Awards, including Best British Independent Film and Best Director. It went on to scoop Best Supporting Actress for Olivia Colman.
- Z For Zachariah
Z For Zachariah premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and saw Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie, and Chris Pine join forces for the sci-fi/drama.
The movie was a big screen adaptation of the novel of the same name by Robert C. O'Brien and saw Craig Zobel in the director's chair. This was the second feature of Zobel's career and came three years after he made his debut with Compliance in 2012. Nissar Modi was also aboard the project as he adapted O'Brien's novel into a screenplay.
Set in the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse, Anna believes that she is the only survivor, until two men come across her farm. The three of them find themselves in an emotionally charged love triangle as the last known survivors.
Z For Zachariah is an incredibly simple premise, and yet it is a truly compelling film from start to finish. It is a character study of these people who have been thrust together and must now find a way to survive and move forward with their lives.
There is something very raw and real about this movie and I like that fact that the story is grounded in a reality and does nothing but tries to tell a very human story.
Z For Zachariah was one of the most anticipated films at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of the year and has been met well but the critics.
- Predestination
Predestination is one of the sci-fi films that has gone under the radar a little this year - which is a major shame as it was a terrific watch.
Predestination hit the big screen in the UK back in February and saw Ethan Hawke take on the central role as Michael and Peter Spierig took up the director's chair. This was the first film for the Spierig brothers since Daybreakers and it saw them reunite with Hawke.
The movie follows a time-travelling Temporal Agent (Hawke) For his final assignment, he must go on the hunt for the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time.
Predestination is one of the most intelligent science fiction films that I have seen all year and it really is a terrific time-travel film.
We have always known that Hawke is a great actor and he delivers another fine performance. However, it is Sarah Snook that really steals the show as she delivers a turn that should make everyone sit up and take note. 2015 has been a great year for the actress and Predestination is one of her best performances.
Predestination is a movie that demands your attention from start to finish as the story jumps back and forward to different times, but it is not as confusing a watch as you may expect. This is an interesting movie that really does pack an emotional punch.
Other science fiction films that have hit the big screen this year include Jupiter Ascending, Tomorrowland, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
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