 | MOVIE DETAILS • Name: The Astronaut’s Wife • Year: 1999 • Country: USA • Director: Rand Ravich • Main cast: Charlize Theron, Johnny Depp, Joe Morton • Runtime: 109 minutes • Production company: New Line Cinema • TRAILER |
Okay, yes, The Astronaut’s Wife is technically not a horror movie. But it has its moments of tension, fear and a science fiction background that I think can give it the chance to be allowed in the reviews section here at dKillerPanda World. And also the fact that I saw it more than 15 years ago and I had the memories that was a very cool movie, with some scary moments. So when I decided to watch for the second time last night I already knew I was going to be reviewed here. So here it is.
The Astronaut’s Wife starts as a NASA drama where a mysterious accident leaves the 2 astronauts lost in the middle of nowhere in outter space for a couple of minutes. And what happened in those 2 minutes when they were alone in total and cold emptiness is the main thread that ties the story together. So after this start point, more into the genres of science fiction or catastrophy movies, the film turns into a drama thriller where the characters slowly descent to a hell they couldn’t imagine.
Personally, I think the movie digs too much into the drama. Too many scenes when we see the wife’s character, played by Charlize Theron in one of her first main roles, lost in a sea of tears and crazy thoughts. The director and writer Rand Ravich driftes around too much with those dramatic moments maybe forgetting too much of the power of the story. Perhaps trying to make a 21st century Rosemary’s Baby (1968) –when you see the movie you’ll know what I mean – but without the magic and creepiness Roman Polanski had in his demonical masterpiece. The fact is directionally speaking you can’t help to have the feeling that The Astronaut’s Wife gets lost for half of its running time.
Besides a strong start point and an interesting idea, what totally saves The Astronaut’s Wife from being thrown to the bonfire is the stunning performances of the main actors. Charlize Theron is superbe, like she normally is. This woman has a gift for acting and expressing emotions with her face and voice, and even back then not being a super star like she is now, she gives us an stunning performance, hardly beatable. And her cast partner Johnny Depp is not less of a great opponent here. Mr. Depp, so known and hated by many for his overacting roles or his lame performances, here shows us he can also be an excelent drama actor without giving one single hint of histrionics, just being a pure thrilling badass. And together with them two, a long list of supporting actors who give life to this good story that was getting dangerously lost into the rivers of mediocrity.
But don’t take only the bad things, The Astronaut’s Wife is an interesting film lost in time, one of the decent small movies from the late 90s before CGI and crazy super-hero action took control of the theatres. And enjoyable to watch again, or watch it for the first time. At least, I enjoyed it.
RATE: 6/10
IMDB URL: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138304
