The Discovery 2017
by
Charlie Mcdowell
If there is Afterlife, then death loses its sting. Philip Larkin would not have been so gloomy, and John Donne not been as lethal. Suicides
would have been actually painless, and even karma would have meant something quite different. Afterlife might have altered human consciousness in ways that can't be
imagined.
The Discovery dares to imagine a scenario in which Robert
Redford develops the concept of afterlife. This results in a spurt in the number
of suicides. Strangely enough, murders have not yet begun, under the premise of
sending the victims to a better place. Robert’s son, Jason Segal, arrives at his
facility, all grimness and dourness, weighed down by the burden of his dad’s
discovery, perhaps, or maybe by his own inconsequence. There is a girl, Isla (Rooney Mara) who warms up to the
concept, and Jason seems inclined towards her.
During the course of experiments, plagued by sabotage, it is established
that experiments are successful, and that Afterlife is an alternate plane
of existence. It is a real place where one can visualize different versions of
life. This discovery could result in a massive rise in number of suicides, assisted deaths and murders. Hence the father and his two sons attempt to
destroy the machines they have constructed.
It’s a great metaphysical concept. But the execution is
shoddy, and shallow, as if the director is almost reluctant and apologetic of having delved deep into the idea. He falls back on traditional themes of family, love
and hope to extricate himself out of the existential mess he has created. This is the undoing of the film, as are the humorless and almost constipated performances by all and sundry. It is a tough film to watch, and one can't be sure what
to make out of this effort.
#afterall #robertredford #jasonsegal #thediscovery #rooneymara
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