I.S.S. – Film Review
by Brian Merriman

Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Writer: Nick Shafir
Starring:  Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., Masha Mashkova, Costa Ronin, and Pilou Asbæk.

I.S.S. stands for the International Space Station, a place above the earth where American and Russian experts work as one team to observe, develop and record matters from a perspective of no borders.

Firstly, the production design by Geoff Wallace and the cinematography by Nick Remy Matthews, with Art Direction by Kevin Hardison and Set decoration by Kevin Pierce are exceptional. Not only do you believe that you are inside the real space station but the sense of weightlessness throughout is so well done.  It is quite an achievement and to see the movie just for that experience alone is worthwhile.

Six astronauts find themselves on the Space Station at a critical time in history. There is an almost three musketeers commitment to ‘one for all’, while they serve together in this confined space for the betterment of humankind.

All continues to go well above the planet while politics and power continue to dominate on the surface of the earth. Something traumatic happens that tests the loyalties of the crew to country or humanity and this is the core driver in the development of relationships between the two teams of two men and one woman,

The movement and the spacewalk are so realistic and futuristic as the drama relies on the more predictable ‘goodies and baddies’ on board. The visual effects are so good, especially the presentation of liquids and the poor specimen mice on board.

Each team has their contrasts, although at times it does seem surprising they passed the psychological tests to be an astronaut.  One’s only motivation is to get back to his family…an odd choice of career if that is the case?

There is a good dose of secrecy, betrayal, emotion and courage in the plot that never reaches the dramatic heights of the incredible spectacle presented on screen,

In that, the casting of Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr. As the Americans and Masha Mashkova, Costa Ronin, and Pilou Asbæk, both men almost physically indistinguishable at times, is strong. You certainly wouldn’t rely upon their nationality to support you in a crisis as the plot examines well.  As always reconciliation is of the utmost, despite the serious consequences faced by all the crew on their journey above the sky. It is very entertaining, visually impressive and well worth seeing on a big screen. Dramatically you won’t be too shaken but with such an exquisite setting, you will leave the cinema feeling you have had an ‘out of this world-like’ experience too.