At the movies: ‘Ex Machina’ director back with Portman-led adventure flick
Natalie Portman leads the latest adventure fantasy flick in “Annihilation,” which opens tomorrow in theaters.
The film is brought to the screen by Alex Garland, known for his directorial work on “Ex Machina.” He’s also known for his writing credits in “Dredd” and “Never Let Me Go.”
Based on the Southern Reach Trilogy, written by Jeff VanderMeer, “Annihilation” follows a biologist, Lena (Portman, “Black Swan” and “V for Vendetta”), on a mission to find her missing husband (Oscar Isaac, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Inside Llewyn Davis”).
The catch, though, is that he’s gone missing in an evironmental disaster zone — and she has no idea what’s ahead beyond the shimmery wall. The cast also includes Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh, “The Hateful Eight” and “Single White Female”), Anya Thorensen (Gina Rodriguez, “Jane the Virgin” and “Deepwater Horizon”), a scientist (Benedict Wong, “Doctor Strange” and “The Martian”), Josie Radek (Tessa Thompson, “Creed” and “Selma”) and Cass Sheppard (Tuva Novotny, “Eat Pray Love” and “The Invisible”).
According to the media review website, RottenTomatoes.com, 98 percent of users want to see “Annihilation.”
Adam Chitwood wrote for Collider that the trailer clued audiences in as to why Portman’s former solider character goes into Area X — a “mysterious and growing path of land in the United States that seems to fundamentally alter everything in its path” — to find out what happened to her husband.
“Garland has shown time and again a knack for engaging and smart stories as the writer of films like ‘The Beach,’ ’28 Days Later,’ and ‘Dredd,’ and ‘Annihilation’ is a perfect fit for his sensibilitie,” he wrote. “VanderMeer’s book is genuinely horrifying and unsettling in surprising ways, and it looks as though Garland has captured that terrifically.”
“What ‘Annihilation’ promises is a wholly unique sci-fi story without easy answers, but one that will rattle you to your core,” he continued. “The cast is terrific (many actresses went out of their way to try and nab a role in this movie), and I can’t wait to see the full film when it hits theaters later this month.”
The film is rated R for violence, bloody images, language and some sexuality.
Other movies that are arriving in theaters this weekend include:
n “Game Night” featuring Jesse Plemons, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Chelsea Peretti, directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, is about a group of friends who solve a murder.
The film is rated R.
n “The Lodgers” featuring Charlotte Vega, David Bradley, Moe Dunford and Eugene Simon, directed by Brian O’Malley, is about a sinister presence in rural Ireland.
The film is rated R.
n “Beast of Burden” directed by Jesper Ganslandt, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Grace Gummer, Pablo Schreiber and Robert Wisdom, follows a man given an hour to do the impossible.
The film is rated R.