If only the lone astronaut in Gravity also had a kindly spider to spend her time with, too, then maybe she wouldn’t be so anxious to get home!
What it's about
All alone on an important mission at the solar system's edge, Czech cosmonaut Jakub (Adam Sandler) finds solace in the all-knowing primordial spider he names Hanuš (Paul Dano).
The take
Set at a time when humans can travel as far into space as Jupiter, Spaceman looks delightfully retro-futuristic. It’s as if the people and tech of the ‘60s were transported to a faraway future where things like long-haul space flights and nebulous pink clouds exist, and so visually, Spaceman is not tiring to look at. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about most of the film’s other elements, including its dialogue and story. Jakub is sent to space to collect mysterious ancient dust, but since we never know why he should exactly, it never feels consequential if at all necessary. In fact, this is less about his mission than it is about coming to terms with existential truths like pain, loss, and love. And what better way to confront all that than with a wise primordial arachnid? Now, the idea of a therapy session between a spaceman and a spider sounds intriguing enough, and with strong enough writing, it could fly. But the dialogue is too sparse to be thought-provoking. The main message, that you should appreciate what you have while you have it, is also too simple to carry the weight of this expansive film, especially since we have very few details about the story and character to go on with. But Sandler, Carrey Mulligan (who plays his wife), and even Paul Dano (who voices the spider) do the best with what they can, and if anything, you leave the film stunned by the visuals and moved by their empathetic performances.
What stands out
All alone on an important mission at the solar system's edge, Czech cosmonaut Jakub (Adam Sandler) finds solace in the all-knowing primordial spider he names Hanuš (Paul Dano).
Comments
Add a comment
Your name
Your comment
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
More like this in
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
A star-studded and riveting legal drama with a blockbuster feel.
8.1
The Guilty (2018)
A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.
9.0
The Substance (2024)
Demi Moore swaps bodies in this standout chaotic body dysmorphia horror
8.0
System Crasher (2019)
A tale of trauma and one of the most talked about movies on Netflix in 2020.
9.0
Forgotten Love (2023)
The stunning third take of the classic Polish pre-war melodrama
7.7
His Three Daughters (2024)
Three sisters deal with life and death in this moving family portrait
8.9
Incendies (2011)
Part melodrama, part war thriller, Incendies is gorgeous and heartbreaking from the first scene
9.9
Wind River (2017)
Sicario's screenwriter directs this story of murder in an Indigenous reserve
9.4
A Silent Voice (2016)
A coming-of-age movie that circles around friendship and the atonement of a boy
8.7
Cold War (2018)
A quiet Polish masterpiece with ravishing music and dazzling visuals