MUTE (2018)

Story & Directed By: Duncan Jones 
Written By: Duncan Jones & Michael Robert Johnson 
Cinematography By: Gary Shaw 
Editor: Laura Jennings & Barrett Heathcote 


Cast: Alexander Skarsgard, Paul Rudd, Justin Theroux, Robert Sheehan, Noel Clarke, Seyneb Saleh, Dominic Monaghan, Rob Kazinsky 


Berlin. Forty years from today. A roiling city of immigrants, where East crashes against West in a science-fiction Casablanca. Leo Beiler, a mute bartender has one reason and one reason only for living here, and she's disappeared. But when Leo's search takes him deeper into the city's underbelly, an odd pair of American surgeons seem to be the only recurring clue, and Leo can't tell if they can help, or who he should fear most.


All in all this is a movies best left to discover. As the more you know about it. The less surprising and fun It will be

It seems like the movie at first wants to introduce you to it’s world and never seems to stop wanting to present the innovations and design. Though the inventions are more revealed as convenient to the plot rather hen in a grand scheme. Though at times it seems to want to beat you over the head with it. Especially for a film that wears it’s inspiration the BLADE RUNNER on it’s sleeve. Though tries to prove itself as an animal all it’s own. At different points though it gets to be a bit too much and comes off as showy. Even with impressive designs and creativity. Though it feels like it should be or wants to be more experimental.

Of course compared with the original BLADE RUNNER and it’s recent sequel this film doesn’t compare or even come close. As this has a personal vision but seems more commercialized more for general audiences than any kind of passion.

The film’s beginning is a flashback to our main characters youth an accident that scars and pretty much defines the character. As he is Amish and a swimmer and rendered mute because his parents don’t believe in modern medicine and refuse him surgery that could bring back his way of speaking. Now at first they present this like something is fishy but never come back to it except to show he can hold his breath for long periods and he lives with little to no technology. Through his performance Alexander Skarsgard communicates all we need to know and his emotional state constantly. Not to mention though most assume he is simple his height leaves him to be very intimidating and believable in fight/action scenes. Even though this doesn’t depend on them or sequences of those kind. But are there when needed.

What is also strange about Skarsgard is that for an actor whose looks and physical presence is so imposing and attractive. He often comes off as more soft and lightweight in roles. Lacking a depth at times when one seems more needed.

The film seems to want to be a kind of Noir but comes off more as a mystery. That teeters into a vigilante tale at times.

The film tries to stay on the straight and narrow of story but As the story goes along we are introduced to supporting characters who you know will tie into the sorry as a whole, but for a section of the film those characters take over and become more the focal point. At that point the movie seems to come more alive and entertaining as their tale is a bit more rambunctious and mysterious as to it’s Purpose rather than the main mystery and revenge tale we have been watching. So that when the main character comes back into the tale and we are once again more in his story. It’s a bit disappointing though necessary. As they are the most interesting. Though we know these support by characters will be important later and not just flirting in and out of the story for no reason. It is also the more unpredictable element in the film. You never know quite where it is going while tackling different subjects and more shows the criminal underground of this city and the future.

Having said that Paul Rudd gives a phenomenal performance as a violent brute but one with a soft side when it comes to his daughter. Most of the time Rudd has played likeable at some point. Here he is but you have never seen him as ruthless and amoral before and it is a revelation. As he is the best thing in the movie. His rapport with Justin Theroux though allows for some darkly comedic moments, sometimes during their jobs as surgeons which brings a MASH type quality to the situations.

Though things happen throughout the film only some of it feels earned. As at many times the film feels like it lacks a certain depth that is needed. Which leaves the characters not being as strong as their presentations or convictions.

The film at times feels overstuffed as it seems to want to put everything in that it can and seems more designed then the story fully thought out and considered thoroughly.

As the film is dedicated to the director’s father David Bowie and his nanny. It’s a nice little inclusion that on the soundtrack he includes composer Philip glass’s interpretation of David Bowie’s song heroes.

The film says also what we all know about technology how it is supposed to bring us together but pushes is further apart and kind of spoils us and leads us to examine ourselves.

It’s a smart choice for the story to start (After a prologue) with us being able to witness the character Naadirah and her feelings and interactions with Leo, as it helps the audience form an emotional center with her and their love story. Rather then starting off the film with her disappearance then the audience is subject to others recollections and little videos with untrustworthy memories.

The film does garner a surprising third act of sorts by building a conspiracy and then reveals a more simple reason and outcome, still with a twist. Which by the end registers more with surprise but not as much mystery as hoped.

The film was originally conceived as a contemporary British gangster movie, then it was changed to be set in Tokyo with Ken Watanabe as Leo. It was after the success of MOON that motivated Duncan Jones to rewrite it and have it set in the future. It was almost made into an animated film using motion captured CGI.


Grade: C+