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What is Don't Look Up?
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Back in early December we commented on the interesting critic response to Don't Look Up and wondered if it might a politicised reaction to a suspicious, but not widely commented on behind the scenes element, pay.

Since then it has made to Netflix, we've been able to watch it, it has broken Netflix records and become their all time second most watched Original just behind Red Notice, and today it received four BAFTA nominations.

Here are our thoughts.

Its trailer is a classic example of deceptive advertising.

Nearly all of the film's jokes are crammed into the trailer - which we rather enjoyed - and the result is you're left feeling cheated of at least an hour and a half of comedy by film's end.

Putting aside the deception and inevitable ensuing disappointment, it is a well made film.

A solid dramatic rather than comedic satire with a very light sprinkling of quality comedy.

The BAFTA and other award nominations aren't outrageous.

But the roots of division in this film go deeper than just dishonesty about its comedic credentials.

Its politics are extremely muddied.

Is it a film about the importance of following genuine, scientific advice?

On the surface it absolutely is. But when things get scary, all of the film's scientists get religious. Like, straight up praying. Group even. It's quite sordid.

Is it a film about the perils of the commercialisation of space?

On the surface it absolutely is. But not terribly meaningfully. The commercial perils portrayed by the film are often silly. Like business just sucks at everything so lots of rockets fail.

Businesses aren't typically inept. With a laser sharp focus on the bottom line they tend to be both effective and ruthlessly efficient in serving their own interests.

Saving Earth would absolutely qualify as a matter of self-interest.

Dangers lie elsewhere, like the possibility of sacrificing safety in the rush to notch up firsts against commercial competitors which we may have already seen.

Perhaps when we don't see mass failure of real commercial rockets many who saw this film will relax and think there's nothing to worry about in the commercialisation of space.

And as we've previously commented on, there's the pay issue. Alongside the film that doesn't look less suspicious.

What is this film?

A solid dramatic satire whose politics feel impossible to pin down, but leave us feeling uneasy.

[ Main Image: Don't Look Up. Credit: Netflix via IMDb.com. ]

References

Grater, Tom (January 6, 2022). ‘Don’t Look Up’ Officially Breaks Netflix Weekly Viewing Record. Deadline.

Keck, Catie (January 25, 2022). Don’t Look Up narrowly misses becoming Netflix’s all-time-best film debut. The Verge.

Netflix (November 17, 2021). Don't Look Up | Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence | Official Trailer | NetflixYouTube.

Sharf, Zac (January 13). Adam McKay Says He Welcomes ‘Don’t Look Up’ Haters, but Some Outrage Is ‘Utterly Ridiculous’. Variety.