THE FUTURE (2011)

Written & Directed By: Miranda July
Cinematography By: Nikolai von Graevenitz
Editor: Andrew Bird

Cast: Miranda July, Hamish Linklater, Angela Trimbur, Kathleen Gati, David Warshofsky


When a couple decides to adopt a stray cat their perspective on life changes radically, literally altering the course of time and space and testing their faith in each other and themselves.

This film plays like a long form music video. It’s precious and cute, full of ideas that don’t seem to come to a full formation. First of all it is narrated by a cat.
I am a huge fan of Miranda July’s 1st film. Here it seems like she thought her audience would follow her. No matter what or the first film was a compromise this film is more purely her work and vision or she was just so much in a rush for a follow up she took a bunch of ideas and threw them together to see what it would look like.

This is a challenging work. It has a certain innocence while dealing with adult themes. That make the film off putting and strange as when you try to take it seriously it then goes for a more fantasy element . That at times comes from nowhere.

I like that it shows people trying to do good things for others that basically destroys their relationship. Then makes them question themselves and their true intentions. Especially when they aren’t as successful as they should be. There are good and funny scenes, here and there but with it’s short running time. I found it a chore to sit through more than anything else,

It’s an art film with limited style and I like Miranda July as a screen presence and as a filmmaker, but I will wait until she makes another film to be excited about her work again.

The best thing in this movie is Hamish Linklater who proves to be an adept leading man and a fascinating performer to watch.
Maybe the film has a message. I just didn’t get. Though it makes it’s intentions very clear

GRADE: D