Don’t Look Up (Netflix)

[Cornettoninja]

I watched this last night and can’t stop mulling it over.

It’s received mixed reviews but I loved it. Apparently it was written before the pandemic and was originally an allegory about global warming but they made edits based on recent times during the pandemic. Some of it hits quite close to home tbh.

Also the politics of it all. The “just look up” versus the “don’t look up” , obvious parallels to all sorts of things today.
The Jeff bezo character Mark Rylance too and how beholden everyone is to him. He plays a similar character in Ready player one.
And I like the ending (won’t spoil it)

Missed the pandemic references as well as the global warming one

Maybe references wasn’t quite the right word, parallels might work better? It’s very heavy on the use of American politics - the inappropriate relationship dynamics between the president and her son echoing trump and his daughter was one of the more blatant ones.

@PuppyMonkey

I think Cate Blanchett had a set of false teeth in didn’t she? Completely changed her appearance. And something different about the nose?

Same with Mark Rylance actually!

Yes, it might have been make up but her nose in this had a nose job look.

But her actual nose does not have a nose job look at all!

is there any animal peril in it ?

There were shots of beautiful wild animals (also children and happy people) which I found upsetting, made me think about what could be destroyed by climate change.

I liked it. Absolutely panned by critics but I found it very watchable. The comet was a very strong metaphor/allegory for global warming and also worked with covid as well.

I started watching this last night and couldn't get into it. Put it back on today but I feel like im fighting to enjoy it, but I don't know why.

Totally get the global warming parallel now. I did wonder why other countries especially Russia and China were failing to act too. Feel a bit thick now.

@Christmasmorning519

Totally get the global warming parallel now. I did wonder why other countries especially Russia and China were failing to act too. Feel a bit thick now.

For me it was more political parallels esp about America. How it was said America was not sharing with the rest of the world and frozen out Russia, China etc. So they launch their own mission but that failed whilst America thinking it would succeed. The who trying to take advantage of all the rare metals on the comet so they will remain the biggest superpower in the world.

There may be a subtle allegory to climate change but thats not what jumped out to me.

There were shots of beautiful wild animals (also children and happy people) which I found upsetting, made me think about what could be destroyed by climate change

Same. That's what made me cry. For the benefit of the pp though, it's just lovely footage of hippos playing and things. Nothing bad is actually happening to them. What's upsetting is just the context - that an asteroid is about to hit earth.

There may be a subtle allegory to climate change but thats not what jumped out to me.

Me either. To me, it was all about covid, Trump and the idiocy of the American media.

Loving reading everyone's comments and theories.

I loved Yule saying "I got this" at the dinner table and the reason why (trying to avoid spoilers here ). Made me chuckle.

After reading these comments I think I need to watch it again and pay more attention. I think I missed some of the more subtle bits.

I only watched the first 15 mins or so - edgy Phd student (pink hair and doc martens so very edgy) and autistic prof want to save the world but being thwarted at every turn by arrogant white, selfish middle aged people in business suits.............. I'll have to take people's word for it that it improved after that.

we watched it last night, it was pretty good - thought it interesting how the female scientist was ridiculed on social media but the male scientist became the 'A.I.L.F'! Also Mark Rylance's character was a zeitgeisty creepy bastard child of Epstein and Musk I thought!

@YourVagesty

There may be a subtle allegory to climate change but thats not what jumped out to me.

Me either. To me, it was all about covid, Trump and the idiocy of the American media.

Ok, the allegory is that the world is going to end. Very soon. The scientists know it and the people know it. However, there is nothing they can do about it.. They need world leaders to take action right now to try and prevent it happening. But they won't do that because it costs lots of money.

This is exactly like climate change. If nothing is done by people in power very soon, our world will become uninhabitable for most of us within about 30-50 years.

It's not just American media or government, it's worldwide. None of the world leaders are prepared to spend the money, so climate change won't be halted. By the time most people realise, it will be too late.

None of the world leaders are prepared to spend the money
None of the western population wants to stop buying stuff, give up their cars , stop flying, eat environmaentally - WE're the problem.

I don’t know why newspaper critics didn’t like it - possibly felt told off for being media themselves? It’s a great film with a great cast. Dark comedy and meant to be uncomfortable - we need telling!

I loved it

@YourenutsmiLord

None of the world leaders are prepared to spend the money None of the western population wants to stop buying stuff, give up their cars , stop flying, eat environmaentally - WE're the problem.

No we're not. This is not something individuals can sort. It needs massive intervention across the globe. It need a united commitment to change. We are too small to change anything. Just as those scientists were powerless to stop the comet. People cannot stop this, only governments can.

True but governments do what people want so they stay in power eg boris Johnson. He changes his mind to suit the polls (he used to be anti brexit). The president does the same in this early on too. If we all start voting Green the world will change, but we don’t want to enough 🤷‍♀️

Watching it now

I’m enjoying it but so frustrated too. I can understand Kates reaction cos I would have the same.

I loved it, it made me think and yes I agree. We're fucked because by the time you can see 'the comet' it'll be too late!

We watched this on Christmas Eve and it ruined it for me and made me quite depressed as I was expecting a happy ending , obviously there wasn’t supposed to be one but really!

It was in marked contrast to all the America saves the world movies and very funny up until the end! It’s was depressing accurate with the self absorbedness of society, media, sexist and political depictions. LdC was fabulous as was Mark Rylance (as he was in The BFG).

I felt that on some level this film was saying: "if the climate crisis was a massive life-ending comet hurtling towards earth, would you THEN take it seriously?".

Also Mark Rylance's character was a zeitgeisty creepy bastard child of Epstein and Musk

I also thought Elon Musk, due to the major creepiness of the character.

It’s a very big sign of what the people would say if it was really happening

“No there’s no comet. It’s the government trying to scare you. It’s a conspiracy”

“The comet is right there!!”

“No. It’s a fake one out there”