Don’t Look Up: Not to be Looked Down Upon

The film “Don’t Look Up” got released right before New Year’s, initially the movie was written just before the pandemic, and we have been hearing mixed reviews about it, from the critics as well as the people. Critics did not seem amused, but the public liked it. The plot is set in a setting, where two scientists discover a comet headed towards earth, and predict the exact time of its impact with the world. They tell the authorities about it, who do not at all seem interested. I am not sure if that seems like a spoiler alert, but voila, that’s the summary of the whole movie. Of course, there’s a lot that still is missing in this one paragraph.

Don’t Look Up is not your average, everyday comedy, where everyone would laugh off to goofy jokes. The humor lies underneath: the layers. That’s subtle humor for you, but not at all suitable for everyone. Overall, the plot, dialog, script, and the characterization was critically on point. As it tells you about human behaviorism, and the world’s seriousness on issues like environmental hazards and climate threats. Our planet right now seems like a dying planet, and the relevant authorities are not really doing anything about the situation. The film is a satire and a punch on your face, that would most definitely hit you, if you have a taste for it.

Coming to the performances, the film casts many A-listers: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Rob Morgan, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, Mark Rylance. Leo yet again nails it through his performance. Even Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep and others were phenomenal in their performances. But the two characters who stood out for me were Jonah Hill and Mark Rylance. Rylance, as an evil corporate, was just the right man for the right job. Lotsa’ scenes in the film were entirely improv: Jonah Hills’ character Jason Orleans was improv for most of the play. Won’t reveal much from the play, look for yourself.

Another aspect of the film, apart from the fact, that the film is a reality based satire, on the authorities and the people: the makers seem to have a thing for conspiracy theories. The truthers would believe anything they see on the internet and believe it. The more rational people are not more likely to, and it has elucidated the two demarcations finely in the film, as there are people who believe the protagonists, and there are people who do not. Then, there are the third kinda' folks, who would try making the best out of the situation, and exploit it for their own purpose, aka: the elites. Corporate sector and government work in collaboration in the best interest of opportunism, not for the betterment of people, but themselves. While the masses are easily manipulated by both: the state, and the corporates; through propaganda, and using media for projection.

The fourth kinda’ folks are the whistle-blowers, whose whistle is silenced, just for the fact that their sound is so shrill, but honest. They keep warning the world about it, but the authorities, again via media and propaganda or in the age of internet, via memes, make fun of them to the point that they make them look like a joke. No one believes them, not until the end, till the point of no return, and it gets too late, till it hits the fan. If this review by now has made you feel sad. Then that’s the whole point of the film, to me at least, truth is out there, and misperceived. It will make you laugh, but only for a moment, but if one further dwells into it, truth is more haunting, but you’d look at it smiling.

Adam McKay did a phenomenal job with direction and the story. Well-executed, well presented and beautifully done. McKay did justice with his job as the director and writer. The cinematography is beautiful, there have been many stock footage used in the film, but they did it with quite grace. The editors are to be thanked for it. The way montages were presented are just a great way to look at it. I would conclude with the remarks Don’t Look Up is not to be looked down upon. 8.3/10 for me.