Don't Look Up
2021
***
Director: Adam McKay
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Scott Mescudi, Himesh Patel, Melanie Lynskey, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep
Two astronomers discover that a massive comet will end all life on Earth in little over six months unless the nations of the world act immediately, but they struggle to make anyone take them seriously. Adam McKay's long and bombastic satire offers a dark and cynical look at today's polarised America, where facts are a matter of opinion and the traditional and social media churn out an endless cycle of polished snapshots of reality. The film is clearly a commentary on the climate crisis in the real world, where no amount of scientific data on global warming is able to make some people believe in it. The resulting comedy is bold and thought-provoking but often more cringey than funny. The cast is impressive, even if many of the characters are broadly drawn and played. Scripted by McKay and David Sirota.
