The Midnight Sky - A Netflix Movie Review

This journey is going to be a challenge. A challenge that I am ready for.

The Midnight Sky is a 2020 Netflix film based on the novel written by Lily Brooks-Dalton. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, a lonely scientist lives out in the artic. He is on a mission to stop a spaceship and its crew from returning to earth. Finding this mysterious girl, they trek out on a journey.

The Midnight Sky could have been a better film if it had a more concise story. The story aside, acting, cinematography, and visual effects were commendable. Honestly, I was confused for most of the film and whose story it was trying to convey.

Other than his position as director, George Clooney starred as the main character, Augustine. I like how he indulged in his character. Most of his performance was dramatically staring off into space. He understood the emotion and this situation. Clooney should have taken more time to evolve the story.

Caoilin Springall was terrific in her film debut. As this mysterious girl, Augustine slowly warms up to her. The interactions between her and Clooney are the best parts of their sequences. Otherwise, the whole point of the little girl’s character is not explained well until the end.

Other credits include the astronauts. Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo, Kyle Chandler, Demian Bichir, Tiffany Boone, and Sophie Rundle were excellent. They created contrasting personalities, interesting backstories, and I enjoyed their interactions with one another. I loved when they were floating around in space. It looks so fun! But, also dangerous.

I wanted to spend more time on the spaceship. Crew members have a fun time joking and floating around. Because it took place in a future-esque world, the production created crafty inventions. To name one, the device where you can view memories is cool.

I was more entertained by their story than Augustine’s lengthy journey across the snowy arctic. Too much time was consumed in Clooney’s arc. There were scenes dictated to exploring his past which were either unnecessary or needed a better explanation. Although it does makes better sense in the end.

The story could have had a better edit. I was a little lost. There is one scene where Augustine is talking with the little girl in a trailer in the arctic when all of a sudden it cuts to a very dramatic sequence. Not to mention, this scene involves a very unrealistic reaction to sitting in a lake of freezing water.

Clooney could have had a better grasp of the story. He did, however, do a nice job in finding gorgeous locations to film in. For one scene in the movie, he filmed in Iceland during an actual snowstorm. Because it was so cold (40 below) Clooney could only film for one minute because his eyelashes froze! That’s commitment.

Emotionally, Clooney did a wonderful job with the whole impact of the film and its themes. Be prepared for a startling sequence that was visually heart-wrenching to see. There was too much going on. I feel that Clooney should have picked one story instead of the inclusion of two contrasting stories.

The visual effects of space are beautiful. More attention could have been given to this storyline. It’s the most entertaining part of the film. The film is ambitious for its portrayal of this post-apocalyptic world and the moral behind it, but the film feels undone to me.

If you would like to check out The Midnight Sky, go watch it on Netflix. It is long and tedious at times but it is worth it for the visual effects.