Passengers

Rating: 5/10 (14 April 2020)

The critics gave this movie fairly low ratings, but there were some regular people I've seen that say that this was good, it looked and sounded like something worthwhile, so I decided I'd make my own mind up, directed by Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game). Basically, The Avalon is a sleeper spaceship, transporting 5,000 passengers and 258 crew members in hibernation pods, designed to keep those onboard asleep for 120 years. The ship is on autopilot on a journey going across the universe to a new star system to the planet Homestead II, and the ship has so far travelled for 30 years. The ship travels through a meteor storm, power is diverted into the forward shield, and a collision with a large asteroid causes a power blink. The fault causes the computer to awaken one passenger, mechanical engineer James "Jim" Preston (Chris Pratt), from his induced hibernation. 90 years too early. He is told that it is normal to feel confused and weak after being asleep for so long, but he is concerned being the only person attending an orientation session. Jim goes around the various computer help systems for information of what is going on, and he is shocked to discover the truth. He tries various things to find a way to reactivate his hibernation pod, or get into the flight control room, but with no success. He sends a message asking for help but finds out it will be fifteen years before anyone on Earth receives it. He is on his own. For some time, he feels depressed, and only has the android barman Arthur (Michael Sheen) for company. Arthur encourages him to make the most of the time he has being alone, to do whatever he wants, so Jim find some entertainment on the ship, such as sneaking into the higher quality suite bedrooms, the many choices of food and drink, the swimming pool, sports equipment, virtual reality games, and much more. However, after a year of being alone, Jim once again becomes despondent, his only moment of some positivity is getting a spacesuit and stepping outside to see the stars. Jim contemplates committing suicide, remaining inside the chamber and opening the door to launch him into the vacuum of space, but he cannot bring himself to do it. Then, when exploring the various pods, Jim notices the beautiful passengers Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence), he studies her profile, she is a journalist travelling for adventure. He thinks she is perfect and is smitten; he wrestles with himself about waking her up, knowing that it will doom her to die on the ship, but he cannot stand the isolation and loneliness. He finally decides to awaken her, letting her believe that her pod also malfunctioned. Jim asks Arthur to keep the secret that he woke her up until Jim himself has told her. Aurora also makes various attempts to re-enter hibernation or contact the crew. Resigned to the situation, Aurora begins writing a book about her experience. Over the next year, Jim and Aurora become friends and partake in activities together. They eventually growing closer, go on a proper date together, and falling in love. Jim intends to propose to Aurora, but Aurora says to Arthur there are "no secrets" between her and Jim, and the android inadvertently reveals the truth to her. Aurora is shocked, anguished and enraged at Jim, she berates and for some time shuns Jim, also physically attacking him. She furiously rejects Jim's pleas for forgiveness, and she avoids any contact with him. Soon after, there is another fault in the system, another pod is damaged and Chief Deck Officer Gus Mancuso (Laurence Fishburne) is awakened from hibernation. Accessing the ship's mainframe, he discovers multiple failures have taken place throughout the ship's systems over some time. If not repaired, the ship will continue suffering critical system failures and the mission may fail. Gus tries to repair the ship, with help from Jim and Aurora, but he soon falls critically ill, having been physically weakened by his malfunctioning pod. The Autodoc, the ship's automated medical diagnostics and treatment pod, reveals that Gus has a prognosis of only hours to live. Gus gives Jim and Aurora his ID badge to access crew-only areas and to repair the ship before he dies. Jim and Aurora discover a series of hull breaches from the asteroid collision two years earlier. The computer module administering the fusion reactor powering the ship has been critically damaged, causing the cascading malfunctions across the ship as all other systems divert power towards the reactor. Jim and Aurora replace the damaged module. But Jim must vent the reactor to extinguish a massive reactor fire after the computer fails, he must open the vent hatch from the ship's exterior while Aurora assists from inside. Aurora admits being terrified of losing Jim and being left alone. After venting the reactor and the fire swarming his spacesuit, Jim's tether snaps, and his damaged suit starts losing oxygen. Aurora retrieves Jim from outer space, but must resuscitate him in the Autodoc, and eventually he is revived. Afterwards, Jim learns that the Autodoc can function as a makeshift hibernation pod for one person. He gives Aurora the chance to go back into hibernation for the remainder of the voyage. She realises she will never see Jim again, and chooses to remain awake with him. Jim presents her with the ring he had made, which she accepts. 88 years later, the ship's crew is awakened on schedule, a few months before the ship is due to arrive at Homestead II. Captain Norris (Andy Garcia) and the other passengers discover a huge tree, a forest of plants and vegetables, and birds flying. Aurora's voice, left in a recording, describes the wonderful life she and Jim lived together on the Avalon. Also starring Aurora Perrineau as Celeste, Aurora's best friend, with the voices of Emma Clarke, Chris Edgerly, Matt Corboy, Fred Melamed and Jon Spaihts (screenwriter) as the various voices of the Avalon computers. Lawrence and Pratt are both terrific actors, alone for some time Pratt is likeable, Lawrence is gorgeous and charming, and they do have great chemistry together, there is good short support from Sheen and Fishburne as well, but I don't understand the point of casting Garcia (who only appears for 10 seconds!). There are arguments that can be made about the moral aspects, perhaps the romance between the strangers is questionable, and it gets a little formulaic towards the end when it becomes a matter of life and death. But personally, I ignored any flaws there may or may not have been, and I just settled back and went with it, I think the critics are rather unfair with their opinions. It is a very compelling story with interesting ideas, splendid acting, a well-rounded script and concept, great set design, the special effects are fantastic, and I can see no reason to be disappointed, a pretty good science-fiction romantic drama. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Music, Original Score for Thomas Newman, and Best Production Design. Worth watching!