The Midnight Sky is a post-apocalyptic science fiction film that came out in 2020, starring and directed by George Clooney. It is based on the 2016 novel Good Morning, Midnight written by Lily Brooks-Dalton. The plot is a survival thriller and explores the themes of deep regret and hope in the midst of contemplating the remarkably delicate nature of humankind. The film is available on Netflix, and features a world set in the 2049 on a post apocalyptic Earth, owed to an unnamed catastrophe that has severely damaged Earth. The story is tied together with a parallel narrative of a spaceship that is returning from a mission to a potential new home for the remnants of humanity.
The movie starts in the 2049, with the Earth’s atmosphere devastated by an unnamed catastrophe. The planet is filled with radiation and is rendered uninhabitable. Within the Arctic circle, a terminally ill scientist, Augustine Lofthouse, played by George Clooney, is quarantined in a research facility. Augustine’s mission has transformed from one of self-preservation to altruism. The returning space mission must be informed of Earth’s fate and Augustus hopes to change the mission direction from the habitable exoplanet K-23 that was discovered decades ago.
Augustine’s solitary existence ends when he finds a young girl named Iris (Caoilinn Springall) who is mute and was abandoned behind during the evacuation. Her silence does not mean she is not formidable. Augustine has to take care of Iris while he contemplates his mortality and, challenging his regrets of a life spent working instead of nurturing relationships. In his own way, he is trying to come to terms with the life behind the curtain.
In space, alongside the crew of the Aether, Commander Adewole (David Oyelowo) leads the crew that include Sully (Felicity Jones), Sanchez (Demián Bichir), Maya (Tiffany Boone), and Mitchell (Kyle Chandler) on board. They have recently concluded their mission on K-23. Little does the crew know of the disaster that has occurred on Earth. While the Aether crew is not prepared for Earth’s disaster, Augustine struggling with blizzard conditions and poor health to reach a comms base is alongside the Aether crew, who are struggling with their own failing comms systems, space debris, and damaged communications systems.
The two lines of the narrative progressively merge as Augustine establishes contact with Aether, and during the exchange, the Aether seems to be ignoring Earth’s warnings as to why it’s uninhabitable. Augustine, on the other hand, seems to be more concerned about Aether’s reckless disregard for the habitable K-23. The emotional stakes of these back and forths, however, escalate more than they already are when it is revealed that Sully is, in fact, Augustine’s daughter, a detail unknown to her. His obsession with work and losing himself in discoveries had meant that he became estranged from her and her mother, and only in dying moments could he speak to his daughter, and that too, in flashes.
There are two members of Aether, who decide to try and land on Earth, while Sully and Adewole resolve to try and return to K-23 to ensure the survival of the humanity. Augustine interacts with Iris back in the Arctic and they seem to share a deep and quiet moment that unravels the staggering truth to Augustine: Iris is not real, but, a hallucination of her father’s memories of her as a toddler. With this realization, Augustine remains alone and watches the sky, knowing that he helped secure a future for the human race, albeit the fact that he cannot be a part of it.
Cast & Characters
George Clooney as Augustine Lofthouse
Clooney delivers a restrained, world-weary performance as a brilliant man burdened with profound sadness. His physical appearance, of which a debilitating beard is a part of, reflects the harsh Arctic setting as well as his frail self.
Felicity Jones as Sully
Jones portrays the kind and skilled communications officer onboard the Aether. Sully particularly embodies the hopes of so many people as she attempts to balance pregnancy in space.
David Oyelowo as Commander Adewole
Adewole is the Aether’s steady commanding officer and an able leader. He’s able to strike a balance between looking out for his crew and making an impossible decision about the fate of humanity. He is calm and collected.
Kyle Chandler as Mitchell
Chandler depicts a veteran astronaut in a key role, he has a profound connection to his family which highlights the personal costs of the space program.
Demián Bichir as Sanchez
Sanchez is the crew’s sympathetic core who, through his quiet loyalty and the tragedy of his fate, infuses the space narrative with additional emotional weight.
Tiffany Boone as Maya
Maya’s character as the youngest crew member encapsulates the excitement as well as the fragility of new pioneers, and she has one of the movie’s most tragic moments.
Caoilinn Springall as Iris
Iris plays a critical yet quiet role as a part of Augustine’s life, representing both the innocence of the past and the emotional ties he had cut off long ago.
Direction and Visual Style:
Clooney directs with a methodical and reflective pacing that allows the emotional beats of the film to resonate. The Midnight Sky visually contrasts the Arctic’s stark white landscapes with the sleek, sterile Aether interiors. Martin Ruhe, the cinematographer, captures the isolation of both settings; one is a frozen, hostile wasteland and the other is space, cold and devoid of life.
The visual effects are a highlight, especially the spacewalk repair outside the Aether, which puts the audience in the dangerous position of working in deep space. The film’s sadness is emphasized by moments of stillness, which are contrasted by the film’s emotional and action-driven peaks, with swelling orchestral passages woven in.
Themes and Analysis:
Isolation and Human Connection:
The film examines the effect of isolation on one’s sense of identity in a frozen Arctic and in a spaceship millions of miles from Earth. Connection is desired by both Augustine and the Aether crew, whether it is with people, loved ones, or the very notion of humanity.
Regret and Redemption:
Augustine’s redemption is quiet and understated. His scientific endeavors do not make up for his personal relationships that were left in shambles. His final mission is one of atonement, even if the people he save’s are not aware of the sacrifice.
Hope in the Face of Extinction:
Though the setting is bleak, the midnight sky suggests that survival, perhaps, even on a distant planet, is worth fighting for. The return to K-23 by Sully and Adewole epitomizes the belief of humanity’s ability to endure.
The Fragility of Earth:
The impact is clear: Earth is no longer a home. The cause of the catastrophe is left vague, this allows the story to stand as a warning for environmental collapse, war, or any other worldwide catastrophe.
Parenthood and Legacy:
Sully’s reveal as Augustine’s daughter adds a personal layer which intertwines with the larger themes of the film. His final mission becomes more than just saving humanity, but to secure a future for his bloodline, which deeply personal.
IMDb Rating and Reception:
The Midnight Sky has an IMDb rating of 5.6 out of 10. Reviewers were divided. Each side took turns praising and critiquing different aspects of the film, including Clooney’s performance, the film’s pacing, and the stunning visuals. While some viewers appreciated the film’s exploration of deep emotions, others thought it was clichéd and overly sentimental.
Although the film received mixed reviews, it was appreciated for its unique atmosphere and visual elements. Both the performance by Clooney and Jones and the film’s visuals were considered more thoughtful in nature compared to traditional sci-fi blockbusters. The film won and was nominated for visual effect awards at The Academy Awards and other notable film events.
Conclusion:
The Midnight Sky is a deeply personal sci-fi film that uses hauntingly beautiful visuals and sounds to shift focus from intense action to tackle more internal forms of exploration and the subject of emotions. The story revolves around endings and how the smaller the act, the more survival becomes resilient. George Clooney performed dual roles as director and star. This allows the film to feel intimate when it’s a story that involves the vast reaches of space and Earth’s frozen wastelands.
The graceful, slow pace might not capture everyone’s attention, but for the viewers who appreciate it, the channeling of emotions, along with the impressive imagery, will pay off in the form of beautiful moments of true profundity. People who understand the disconnect in the world we live in today will understand the depth of what The Midnight Sky offers, as it showcases how people, even at the end of the world, strive to reach out for one another in the form of saving, connecting, and loving.
Watch Free Movies on Sflix