Less than 24 hours after watching the sleek-looking Blu-ray edition of "Another Earth," I was startled to hear in the news that an Earthlike planet was discovered orbiting a sunlike star some 4 million light years away. In a curious twist of life imitating art, the film holds more meaning now given its not-so-fictional plot.
Eerie coincidences aside though, "Another Earth" would make the perfect holiday gift for the sci-fi enthusiast in your family or any film nerd, really. It's the perfect blend of sci-fi, drama and horror themes, making it a hit for even the most skeptical movie-watcher. The story, as previously mentioned, revolves around the discovery of a second earth (hence the title) with the ability to replicate life. Upon making contact with the aptly dubbed Earth II, we soon find out that not all is as it seems.
Running parallel with this life-changing discovery is the story of Rhoda and John, two individuals who are forever intertwined due to a fatal accident dating back five years. Following a drunk-driving accident that killed Burroughs' family and left him in a coma, Rhoda must cope with the guilt of what happened that fateful night. Eventually, the unlikely pair develops a relationship all while Burroughs is none the wiser of Rhoda's true identity.
Brilliantly acted by a cast of virtual no-namers with a unique vision to boot, "Another Earth" is definitely a standout of 2011. The cinematography is just unbelievable, and I am happy to note that the quality of the Blu-ray makes the whole experience equally as triumphant as seeing it in theaters. Burgeoning young film director Mike Cahill creates an atmospheric sci-fi thriller unlike any that I've seen in quite some time. It's a beautiful and epic journey, but moreover it's a foray into a very plausible future.
As far as the release itself, the film is presented in three ways (DVD, Blu-ray and digital format) all in the same glorious package. So no matter what your poison is, "Another Earth" has a format for you. The special features pretty much land par for the course — a "making of" piece, a series of vignettes/interviews with Cahill and the lead actors and loads of deleted scenes. In short, there's plenty of extras to warrant making this a Christmas gift for someone special.
Film: 5 Yaps Extras: 4.5 Yaps