So many questions but no answers!

Rating: 7/10 (12 March 2018)

Where do you start with this film?? There is so much going on in this film, this is not an ordinary run of the mill film, ordinary is the polar opposite of how you would describe this film.
Firstly Alex Garland who is now on my radar as a director, this film is definitely pushing the boundaries for the genre and for film making in general. This is only his second film he has directed!! I personally wasn't a huge fan of "Ex Machina" thought it was good but not much more, "Annihilation" on the other hand is a better film, for me personally. He has not only pushed the boundaries in terms of directing but the story as well, going to places that are definitely not usual. Does every risk in this film work??????? NO, but I respect the attempts and efforts made by Garland to try and make something new, fresh, different and challenging to watch. Overall he has done a great job.
The film is extremely well cast, as if the characters were written for the actors. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez, Tuva Novotny and Oscar Issac are all really good and solid in their respective roles but obviously there is one standout of the film and that is the central character played by Natalie Portman. She is simply fantastic in the film bringing a great emotional heart beat to the film throughout. As soon as the film gets going you, as the audience, instantly gravitate towards Portman as a person let alone the mission she is about to get herself involved. She is faultless throughout and works perfectly as the audiences eyes through the mission in the shimmer.
Also the fact that the whole crew going into the "Shimmer" were all female was never really mentioned apart from maybe once if I can remember. The film doesn't need to mention it or make a big deal about it because these are all extremely talented individuals going in to do a mission, it doesn't matter about their gender. The film handle this potentially risky subject matter really well from overshadowing the film, praise goes to the whole female cast and Alex Garland.
Other positives are the sound and cinematography which are both haunting and mesmerising at the same time. Both elements are breath taking throughout the film and do a great job in heightening tension or showing the false beauty of the "Shimmer".
The main negatives with the film are the story and the pacing, both of which at times are incredibly slow and for the story over complicated. Now I like a good slow burning Sci-Fi film like "Blade Runner" , "Arrival" or "Interstellar" but this film, in its quite moments, really did absolutely nothing. It is as if the whole film just slows down in the middle act and just wanders around pointlessly. Nothing really happens to move the film along in the middle, its just really confusing.
This links to the story which for the most part is interesting and fascinating to watch and go along with, however when the third act arrives it drops the entire film into bizarre confusion. This film definitely gives out more questions than answers which I like about films in general, I like to be challenged as an audience member than rather have everything handed to me on a platter. However this film goes for it too much and tries to give to many questions without any answers. Two Oscar Issac's?? Glowing person?? Glowing Eyes?? What I am trying to say is that the film is trying to hard to be ambiguous and clever for its own good. I don't think it answers a single question brought up.... I could be and probably are wrong.
Overall 75% out of 100 or 7.5 out of 10 this film is good almost very good, its is not an ordinary film and is 100% not for everyone you've got to like challenging films to enjoy this. Has some fantastic elements but some also puzzling ones that make no sense. Great cast and directing, worth a watch but its not easy!!