About Me PREDESTINATION chronicles the life of a Temporal Agent sent on an intricate series of time-travel journeys designed to ensure the continuation of his law enforcement career for all eternity. Now, on his final assignment, the Agent must pursue the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2397535
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Directed by | The Spierig Brothers |
| Screenplay by | The Spierig Brothers |
| Based on | “—All You Zombies—” by Robert A. Heinlein |
| Starring | Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Noah Taylor, Madeleine West |
| Release dates | 8 March 2014 (SXSW Film Festival), 28 August 2014 (Australia) |
| Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Budget | $5 million |
| Box office | $5.4 million |
My review
This work is based on a novel. The film’s premise, where the climax and development are articulated through written narration, creates a consistency in the story’s content. The film likely benefitted from its clear focus on the story’s highlights, beauty, and core themes, simplifying the adaptation process. However, since this work has a wide time axis, I think it was necessary to prepare various sets. Therefore, this work required a considerable budget.
The title is excellent. The title “Pre-destination” refers to destiny. The film highlights whether this is a predetermined fate or one that can be altered. Paradoxically, the science fiction element of time travel is a tool for moving through the time axis, and I feel that it is not an important content of this work. The film’s subtle approach to time travel, using straightforward tools and few restrictions, effectively emphasizes the narrative rather than the complexities of time travel. As you can see, the conclusions were divided on whether it was self-contained or whether it caused damage to others.
This science fiction movie, especially a time travel movie, doesn’t have the futuristic feel of movies that go back and forth between the past and the future. The protagonist can easily perform sudden time travel.
The film’s direction and cinematography were also noteworthy, particularly the visuals in scenes traversing different time periods. The lead actor’s performance enhanced the complex narrative, adding depth to the emotional aspects of the story. Watching this movie made me reflect on my own past and future, particularly resonating with the themes of destiny and choice.
There are two main things that make this film great.
A standout aspect is its treatment of challenging themes like ‘sexuality’ and ‘LGBTQ’, weaving these contemporary issues seamlessly into the time-travel narrative. I think it’s wonderful because it depicts this along with the movement of time and space. I think it was written at the time of the original novel, but it shows the author’s high level of creativity.
The second point is that the same people are facing each other. This is taboo in science fiction movies. What should I do to avoid meeting my past self?While many works focus on this, this work depicts a confrontation with one’s own self. It’s quite rare and I’ve never seen anything else like it.
This film excels in consistently delivering unexpected twists and maintaining an engaging pace, making it a memorable cinematic experience. If I had the power to go back in time, I would choose to forget the climax to experience the movie afresh.
Impressive reviews from other watchers
Positive
The one thing that this job has taught me is that truth is stranger than fiction.
Out of Australia, Predestination is directed by Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig (who also scores the music). The Spierig’s also adapt the screenplay from Robert A. Heinlein’s story “All You Zombies”. It stars Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Noah Taylor, Christopher Kirby and Madeleine West. Ben Nott is the cinematographer.
If we throw up a simple synopsis for this pic, it’s about a time travelling agent who goes back in time to stop a killer known as “The Fizzle Bomber” – whilst helping a trans-gender man who has just told him a fascinating and emotionally wrought story. But simple is not a word readily associated with the Spierig’s deliriously complicated mind meld of a movie.
The first half of film is the story being relayed by Snook to Hawke, and then the film spirals into a world of temporal loops and frazzled paradoxes. This demands the utmost attention from the viewer, a piece guaranteed to have you asking tricky questions, and also likely to have you rewinding some scenes for clarity – like I did!
This is not an actioner, this is very cerebral and sedate in tone, adult science fiction that’s as audacious as it is clever. Snook is quite simply outstanding, the various layers she gives to her characterisations grip with intensity and emotional heart tugs. Hawke once again is reassuringly great – in that how he doesn’t need to overact, he recognises the tone needed here, whilst knowing it’s wise to let his co-star take the main stage.
Thematically the story blends its dizzying thoughts about time and its impact on the human race, with that of our basic human condition, that of identity. This is a very rewarding production for those who wont be popping off to make a cup of coffee during the viewing, it’s hoped that in time this will garner more fans and be seen as something of a sci-fi gem. 8/10
https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3469774/
Negative
Paradoxical Mess
It is hard to understand the hype surrounding “Predestination”, maybe by people that has not understood the story but pose as intellectual; or maybe by people that wants to seem smarter or more intelligent than the others and easily satisfies themselves with a weak story of butterfly effect. The paradoxical story is indeed a complete mess and the screenplay is awful, spending a long period with the past of Jane and fast-paced later when the time travels are shown. A film that needs boards and forums to be discussed by countless viewers trying to find explanation proves how terrible the story and the screenplay are. The lovely Sarah Snook, from “Jessabelle”, steals the show with a fantastic performance and is the best “Predestination” can offer. My vote is three.
https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3586955/
