Europa Report (2013)
Starring: Sharlto Copley, Michael Nyqvist, Christian Camargo
Writer: Philip Gelatt
Director: Sebastián Cordero
Synopsis (From Magnolia Entertainment):
When unmanned probes suggest that a
hidden ocean could exist underneath Europa's icy surface and may
contain single-celled life, Europa Ventures, a privately funded space
exploration company, sends six of the best astronauts from around the
world to confirm the data and explore the revolutionary discovery.
After a near-catastrophic technical failure that leads to loss of
communication with Earth and the tragic death of a crew member, the
surviving astronauts must overcome the psychological and physical
toll of deep space travel, and survive a discovery on Europa more
profound than they had ever imagined.
Review:
Found-footage films are a dime a dozen
these days, and discovering a good one is more tasking than looking for a
needle in a haystack. Hell, I am an unabashed fan of the sub-genre,
and I can admit to that. What makes Europa Report a tad different
than a lot of other found-footage movies is how controlled the camera
work is. It doesn't come off messy or frantic. It's all very easy on
the eyes. The news broadcasts at the beginning of the film appear terribly realistic, as well. Anyway, if found-footage isn't your cup
of tea purely because of jolting camera work, you may be pleasantly
surprised with Europa Report. But, if slow burn movies aren't your gig, you might still be disappointed.
The story takes place over a 22 month
period. Admittedly, there's not a lot of action for a long
duration of the movie. It contains some great character buildup,
though, and what I would consider to be an authentic display of human
breakdown, due to being distanced from home for such a long period of
time. There's one major event in the story that's told in sporadic
manner, and I found this to be pretty smart, since there isn't a ton
going on for quite a while. The movie moves forward, without really
giving you any explanation of the cause for said event... then bam!
Out of nowhere comes some backtracking. It's at the
perfect time for such an unveiling. Keep in mind, Europa Report
isn't a horror film, but it is a film containing horrifying elements.
Being confined is one of my biggest fears, as well as the thought of
being so far away from everything I've ever known, so the movie gave
me an uneasy feeling throughout.
The acting is pretty solid from
everyone, but the standouts are Anamaria Marinca, Sharlto Copley,
and Michael Nyqvist, as Rosa, James, and Andrei, respectively. I
really grasped on to the emotions of Rosa through her webcam diaries,
where you're given hints of the crew's despair long before you get the reasoning. Marinca is splendid in the role. Rosa is additionally a dangerous
character or sorts, one that runs out into the middle of action
caring not about consequence. Sharlto Copley as James is exactly how
I could perceive myself on a mission like this. The long time away
from family seriously takes its toll on the character, and Copley
makes the depression seem authentic. Lastly, Michael Nyqvist
as Andrei gives us his interpretation of a person on the brink of
full collapse in light of a voyage that's becoming staggeringly
bleak. This character is particularly interesting, because you never
quite know what a person under such stress would be capable of
doing. So, yes, very good performances here on all fronts.
Another big star of Europa Report is
visual effects. The movie largely consists of digital backgrounds,
and surprisingly it all looks very good. Europa itself is honestly
breathtaking. The area where the crew land on the moon gives us a straight-shot look right ahead at Jupiter, and if you can put yourself in the
boots of a character standing right before this massive planet, it's
actually pretty moving.
Accompanying all the great scenery of
Europa Report is a beautiful orchestral score by Bear McCreary. The
music is completely what I want and would expect to hear in a film
about space exploration. McCreary delivers my needs in spades.
Final Word:
I normally use October as an excuse to
watch absolutely nothing but an avalanche of horror films, even more so
than every other month. Europa Report was honestly a nice little
break from that. Though, as I previously mentioned, it does more or
less deliver its own little element of horror in the form of
claustrophobia.
Blu-ray:
Available October 8th, 2013, from Magnolia Entertainment under the Magnet Releasing label. Europa Report is presented in 16x9 (1.78:1) 1080p High Definition. As far as I'm concerned, this type of movie should definitely be seen on Blu-ray. There's way too many glorious visuals, and watching it in another manner I feel would be a disservice to yourself and the film. Audio is an English 5.1 DTS-HD Master, and in some instances, it will simultaneously raise your roof and shake your floor. Subtitles provided are English SDH and Spanish.
Special Features
Exploring the Visual Effects of Europa Report - This is a short and sweet featurette on how the visual effects of Europa Report were achieved. If you're a fan of movie FX than it's definitely worth a watch.
The Musical Journey of Europa Report - Also a must watch if you have have an affinity for film scores. Composer Bear McCreary takes you through the process, gives you an idea of his influences, and there's even some scenes of the orchestra performing the music. Really cool little feature.
Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery
Theatrical Trailer
Final Word:
Not particularly large on special features, but the two featurettes cover two of my favorites loves when it comes to movies. So, I consider it a win.
Order the Blu-ray HERE
Order the DVD HERE
Instant Video HERE
-Eric (Brobocop)
