MISSION TO MARS (2000)

Directed By: Brian DePalma Written By: Jim & John Thomas & Graham Yost Based on a story by: Jim & John Thomas, Lowell Canon Cinematography By: Stephen H. Burum Editor: Paul Hirsch CAST: Gary Sinise, Don Cheadle, Tim Robbins, Jerry O’Connell, Connie Nielsen, Elise Neal, Kim Delaney When I first heard about this movie. I thought it was going to be a classic throwback to the 1950’s men on a mission to uncharted territories being updated for current times. Either way with Brian DePalma directing I knew it would be stylish. So I went to see this film in the theater figuring it had to be decent. It has a good cast. Then I sat in horror for the next two hours. Thinking as time went by that by the next scene the film would get better. That never happened. The film is a interesting misfire. It has some ideas and impressive special effects but each act of the film plays like a different movie. The 1st act is about discovering uncharted territory. The 2nd act starts off by showing all this impressive technology then becoming men on a rescue mission. By the 3rd act it becomes melodramatic and about self discovery. So it leaves you so disoriented. You think space aliens are the villains because they killed a bunch of astronauts in the first act, but that proves to be false apparently it was because of vicious weather. The aliens are just protecting their planet but then at the end want to take one of the astronauts and teach him about the universe. While they learn all about earth from him. So as you can see it’s a incoherent mess. Now as usual DePalma impresses with the camera work and angles. Which is highly noticeable in the first earth scene. That has his infamous no cuts tracking camera shot all done in one take. That introduces us to most of the characters and particularly dramatic arc for the rest of the film. That is impressive as are the scenes of weightlessness in the space station especially when it is rotating and one death scene in space is impressive but that is really it for highlights. But this leaves the film with some style but hardly any substance. They try to make the film have some but it comes off as scientific mumbo jumbo. This film deserved more then that. It’s interesting that Brian DePalma was a replacement director for Gore Verbinski Who the studio felt was too inexperienced when the films budget grew. Gary Sinise has on a ridiculous wig and make up that tries to make his character look younger but fails. I like that the scenes on earth come off as modern yet furturistic. I remember that this film was going up against RED PLANET starring Val Kilmer as they were competing mars projects. Like ARMAGEDDON and DEEP IMPACT were killer asteroids were competing projects and VOLCANO and DANTE’S PEAK were killer volcano pictures. Every couple of years Hollywood always seems to have competing projects on similar subject yet different takes on the same material. Just like the debates between THE BEATLES and THE ROLLING STONES as to who were your favorite rock bands. Fans are usually split as to which film is better in all these competitions. Though fans usually liked both they clearly had favorites. This film won, it was first and made more money sine this was also a simpler film. Skip it but if you feel like you must watch it wait until it is on TV. GRADE: D