by Josh Sewell
I know it’s not fair to go into a new movie with preconceived notions, but if studios didn’t want me to be dubious about their winter releases, they wouldn’t dump so much of their trash in January and February. That being said, when I hit play on the screener for I.S.S., the new thriller from Bleeker Street hitting theaters this weekend, I fully expected to be underwhelmed despite an intriguing premise.
Instead, I got a compelling story with plenty of tension, some really strong performances and a couple of fun twists along the way. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite and screenwriter Nick Shafir prove a movie doesn’t have to be part of a franchise or come with a staggering $200 million budget to show audiences an enjoyable time.
The story is disturbing, although not farfetched considering the current geopolitical landscape. In the near future, three astronauts from the United States (Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina and John Gallagher Jr.) and three from Russia (Masha Mashkova, Costa Ronin and Pilou Asbæk) prepare for a prolonged stay abord the International Space Station, conducting various experiments for their home countries. However, when nuclear war breaks out on Earth, both sets of astronauts receive the same orders from their superiors: take control of the space station by any means necessary.
Compared to its sci-fi movie brethren, I.S.S. has surprisingly realistic visual effects, especially considering its modest budget. I was pulled into the story’s claustrophobic world right away, which allows Cowperthwaite to build a considerable amount of tension even before the characters witness apocalyptic explosions all over the planet.
The cast is terrific, demonstrating a hesitant camaraderie before things get ugly. DeBose (in her first live-action lead role since winning Best Supporting Actress for 2021’s West Side Story) demonstrates impressive range. Her character starts off as the crew’s newest member, but she doesn’t hesitate to take matters into her own hands when it becomes clear she can’t trust everyone onboard.
She’s backed up with assured work from Messina (as the determined boss of the American crew) and Gallagher (whose character is determined to get back to his daughters, no matter the cost). The same goes for the actors playing the Russian astronauts – they’re not as recognizable as their costars, which means they get to take even more advantage of exploring the gray area their characters inhabit.
Granted, I.S.S. doesn’t allow for much time to establish much about the characters’ personalities and backstories before the central conflict kicks off. Fortunately, the actors are strong enough to sprinkle bits of that info throughout – with help from Shafir’s screenplay, of course.
While the flick’s rapid pace does have a handful of drawbacks, I can’t really complain about its short and to-the-point nature. Cowperthwaite and Shafir establish the premise, launch the conflict (pun slightly intended) and – a couple of spoilery exceptions aside – allow things to play out naturally over the course of 95 harrowing minutes. I’m sure some viewers might take issue with the more ambiguous elements of the story, but I thought they were a nice touch considering the characters almost never have all the information they need. That’s where the suspense comes from.
(I.S.S. is rated R for some violence and language. Opens in theaters January 19.)
Grade: B+
Home Entertainment Spotlight
Journey to Bethlehem
(Rated PG for thematic elements. Now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.)
Fresh off its theatrical run, this modern Christmas musical is available for home viewing a few weeks after the holiday season. A young woman (Fiona Palomo) carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man (Milo Manheim) torn between love and honor. A jealous king (Antonio Banders) who will stop at nothing to keep his crown.
This family film weaves classic Christmas melodies with new pop songs in a retelling of the story of Mary, Joseph and the birth of Jesus. Special features include five behind-the-scenes featurettes, three deleted scenes and a digital copy of the movie.
The Raid: Redemption
(Not rated, but contains strong brutal bloody violence throughout, and language. Now available as a limited edition 4K Ultra HD SteelBook.)
Gareth Evans’ 2011 stunner, considered one of the greatest action films ever made, gets a new 4K SteelBook release. An elite SWAT team is tasked with raiding an impenetrable Jakarta safe house in order to take down the notorious drug lord that runs it. But when a chance encounter blows their cover and news of their assault reaches the killers and gangsters inside, they find themselves stranded on the sixth floor with no way out. The unit must fight their way through the city’s worst to survive their mission.
This unrated version of The Raid comes with a wealth of special features, including a commentary from Evans; behind-the-scenes video blogs; conversations on the film’s score; trailers and TV spots; and a digital copy of the movie.
Instead, I got a compelling story with plenty of tension, some really strong performances and a couple of fun twists along the way. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite and screenwriter Nick Shafir prove a movie doesn’t have to be part of a franchise or come with a staggering $200 million budget to show audiences an enjoyable time.
The story is disturbing, although not farfetched considering the current geopolitical landscape. In the near future, three astronauts from the United States (Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina and John Gallagher Jr.) and three from Russia (Masha Mashkova, Costa Ronin and Pilou Asbæk) prepare for a prolonged stay abord the International Space Station, conducting various experiments for their home countries. However, when nuclear war breaks out on Earth, both sets of astronauts receive the same orders from their superiors: take control of the space station by any means necessary.
Compared to its sci-fi movie brethren, I.S.S. has surprisingly realistic visual effects, especially considering its modest budget. I was pulled into the story’s claustrophobic world right away, which allows Cowperthwaite to build a considerable amount of tension even before the characters witness apocalyptic explosions all over the planet.
The cast is terrific, demonstrating a hesitant camaraderie before things get ugly. DeBose (in her first live-action lead role since winning Best Supporting Actress for 2021’s West Side Story) demonstrates impressive range. Her character starts off as the crew’s newest member, but she doesn’t hesitate to take matters into her own hands when it becomes clear she can’t trust everyone onboard.
She’s backed up with assured work from Messina (as the determined boss of the American crew) and Gallagher (whose character is determined to get back to his daughters, no matter the cost). The same goes for the actors playing the Russian astronauts – they’re not as recognizable as their costars, which means they get to take even more advantage of exploring the gray area their characters inhabit.
Granted, I.S.S. doesn’t allow for much time to establish much about the characters’ personalities and backstories before the central conflict kicks off. Fortunately, the actors are strong enough to sprinkle bits of that info throughout – with help from Shafir’s screenplay, of course.
While the flick’s rapid pace does have a handful of drawbacks, I can’t really complain about its short and to-the-point nature. Cowperthwaite and Shafir establish the premise, launch the conflict (pun slightly intended) and – a couple of spoilery exceptions aside – allow things to play out naturally over the course of 95 harrowing minutes. I’m sure some viewers might take issue with the more ambiguous elements of the story, but I thought they were a nice touch considering the characters almost never have all the information they need. That’s where the suspense comes from.
(I.S.S. is rated R for some violence and language. Opens in theaters January 19.)
Grade: B+
Home Entertainment Spotlight
(Rated PG for thematic elements. Now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.)
Fresh off its theatrical run, this modern Christmas musical is available for home viewing a few weeks after the holiday season. A young woman (Fiona Palomo) carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man (Milo Manheim) torn between love and honor. A jealous king (Antonio Banders) who will stop at nothing to keep his crown.
This family film weaves classic Christmas melodies with new pop songs in a retelling of the story of Mary, Joseph and the birth of Jesus. Special features include five behind-the-scenes featurettes, three deleted scenes and a digital copy of the movie.
(Not rated, but contains strong brutal bloody violence throughout, and language. Now available as a limited edition 4K Ultra HD SteelBook.)
Gareth Evans’ 2011 stunner, considered one of the greatest action films ever made, gets a new 4K SteelBook release. An elite SWAT team is tasked with raiding an impenetrable Jakarta safe house in order to take down the notorious drug lord that runs it. But when a chance encounter blows their cover and news of their assault reaches the killers and gangsters inside, they find themselves stranded on the sixth floor with no way out. The unit must fight their way through the city’s worst to survive their mission.
This unrated version of The Raid comes with a wealth of special features, including a commentary from Evans; behind-the-scenes video blogs; conversations on the film’s score; trailers and TV spots; and a digital copy of the movie.
Reach out to Josh Sewell at joshsewell81@gmail.com
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