Pure Science Fiction

Rating: 9/10 (13 June 2018)

In today's moviegoing culture, I feel as if pure science fiction tales are heading the way of the dinosaur. Don't get me wrong...there are plenty of films that are set in sci-fi type environments, but most of those either lean heavily on the "science" in sci-fi or end up being little more than character pieces. I believe there is room for a return to science fiction in its purest form, and that is exactly what "Annihilation" provided me.
For a basic plot summary, "Annihilation" primarily focuses on Lena (Natalie Portman), an ex-Army veteran (now biologist) whose husband still serves. After being absent for close to a year, that husband (Oscar Isaac) suddenly walks through the door to their home. What Lena discovers is that he has been inside "The Shimmer", a top-secret project to find out just what in the world has materialized seemingly out of nowhere and is spreading at an alarming rate. Lena herself enters the Shimmer with a team of women (Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tuva Novotny, & Tessa Thompson) in hopes of finding answers both biologically and otherwise.
What I absolutely love about "Annihilation" is that it is filled with great visuals and "what-if?" moments, to me the essentials of strong science fiction. Does everything necessarily make sense or can easily be explained? Certainly not. But if it could, it would cease to be science-fiction. As viewers, I think we are so used to being over-explained or relying on hard science to bolster our enjoyment of these types of movies that we forget about that "what if?" factor. These are the types of films that aroused my curiosity as a child, and apparently they still do to this day.
Besides the great, intriguing visuals and interesting plot, the acting is also top-notch. It's especially great to see Portman back in a leading role, as she is such an incredible acting talent. "Annihilation" could actually stand up as almost the blueprint for making a female-centric film in Hollywood these days (very much a hot-button issue in the industry). Never once is it pushed or preached, but 80% (or perhaps higher) of the film's scenes feature exclusively women. Never once did I think "I wish this had more of a male presence" in the slightest. I think it just goes to show that if you conceive a good enough film and cast solid female actors, the results can kind of speak for themselves.
For the second time now, director/writer Alex Garland has caught my attention with a science-fiction flick (the first being "Ex Machine"). Like I've mentioned, these are the types of films I sought out as a younger man (full of wonder and possibilities) and am always "up for" even today. Garland's work, then, will continued to be closely monitored by this film fan.
Thus, I have nothing but praise for "Annihilation" and hope that it does well in streaming & home video rentals (it kind of got pushed out of cinemas fairly quickly). While perhaps not quite as good as "Ex Machine" or "Arrival" (similar-fare flicks), this one is very, very close.