On the Small Problems in Another Earth

Another Earth is a big picture film. Not in terms of budget, but in terms of concept. Another planet earth is discovered, a duplicate to our own where everyone is identical except for when they first noticed the second planet, at which point their ‘other’ took another life trajectory. This is what the film industry would refer to as a high concept film. And it is this concept and our desire to see its dénouement that keeps us interested. Unfortunately, while being a big picture film, Another Earth often forgets to take care of the little things. The film has the look and feel of a student film; the close ups of people and the lingering shots of dust lack meaning and suggest an inability to form a coherent structure; the acting is also often unnatural when attempting to deal with the bigger themes being exposed. There is also a lack of natural character development and instead the film relies on the second planet, always a present feature in the sky, to fill or distract us from these small problems. However, the film does have a hold over us because it asks one very interesting question and poses it in a unique way. It simply fails to deliver on its concept.