Could have been a sci-fi event film

Rating: 5/10 (3 March 2019)

Natalie Portman has an impressively diverse filmography. From Amidala to Evey Hammond, she can pull off everything from friendly girl next door to badass chic. In 'Annihilation,' Portman aims more for the latter, but what could have been a promising sci-fi drama ends up getting bogged down in the swamplands of the panhandle where it's set.
Clearly situated at the crossroads of dissatisfaction with her personal and professional lives, Portman's Lena is thrust into an experience she wouldn't wish upon her worst enemy. Ultimately, the warped scenarios she and a crew of outcasts (Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson) come across are a mix of disturbing, fascinating and breathtaking. While 'Annihilation' suffers majorly in the character development department, it somehow makes up for this in the cinematography, art direction and what can only be described as a score that would have been birthed if '2001: A Space Odyssey' and '1984' got together.
When the plot finally constructs (or deconstructs, depending on how you look at it), it's clear the limits of Alex Garland's vision are tested...and overstep their bounds. Cliffhanger ending be dashed, the execution was unevenly paced and messy - not in a Picasso way, either. Meanwhile, Portman and on-screen husband Oscar Isaac deliver zombie-like performances, with Jason Leigh coming off colder than her haunted Dr. Ventress should be. Thompson perhaps gives the best effort, but that's not saying much.
It's true that 'Annihilation' could have been in the realm of an 'Arrival,' but those hopes will clearly never be realized.