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.

I loved it too. It was interesting seeing the new perception of America reflected in film. My favourite parts were JL pondering the free snacks scene. They did those so well that I laughed out loud each time.

@Allsorts1

I loved it too. It was interesting seeing the new perception of America reflected in film. My favourite parts were JL pondering the free snacks scene. They did those so well that I laughed out loud each time.

Me too! Each time you come in mid-conversation and think she's saying something profound and then she's still so annoyed about it!

You should also check out Prof Brian Cox talking about the film on YouTube, he goes a bit into the science etc & how difficult it is for science to be believed in the current climate & how nations need to plan for these things - hammers the point home even more!

Everyone knows what should be done but imv there is no replacement for capitalism and it depends on people manufacturing and buying stuff. Until someone comes up with an alternative (which WOULD be a good film) - For example, let's all live like the 1950s - only those who need them eg firebrigade can have vehicles, everyone who works in manufacturing and selling stuff is paid off and gets a basic wage for doing nothing, we stop wanting stuff (all that precious metal being mined, causing destruction and waste, for all your phones, no one I know is giving up having a phone).
But Ext Reb blame big businesses and this film blames Gov. When really it's us. If Gov banned import of manufactured goods we'd immediately vote them out of office. The Gov can't do it alone without civil war

I didn’t love it

It left an impression but a bit of a junky one (like eating snacks)

I liked Leonardo and Cate B as actors

I didn’t even like Jonah Hill in it and he’s usually my fave

Plus I noticed it was by Adam M who did The Big Short which is one of my favourite films

Found Meryl S character too much

In terms of using Covid as base was it conceived of and filmed within the time period I wonder

Maybe it was pretty fast no idea - have creators talked about that

Not sure how meryls character was too much when we had trump? It seemed fairly accurate to me.

It was about climate change but also covid - how some people are too stupid to listen to scientists/experts. How politicians play to what stupid people want to hear or are scared of as they will get in as there are so many out there. It was about any topic that we want to ignore. I think it will remain relevant to whatever we are going through

My question re Covid was did the makers have enough time to base it on that? And have they talked about it as a key inspiration

Yes I get people will see Trump and felt differently re Meryl

I didn’t get much out of that part though

@MarshaBradyo according to Wikipedia the screenplay was written 2018/19, Netflix deal was signed in 2019 and production started in 2020.

I believe there were a number of edits made post Netflix deal to reflect recent experience of the pandemic (I think DiCaprio contributed once he was on board) but the main screenplay was completed pre-pandemic.

@YourenutsmiLord

You should also check out Prof Brian Cox talking about the film on YouTube, he goes a bit into the science etc & how difficult it is for science to be believed in the current climate & how nations need to plan for these things - hammers the point home even more!

Everyone knows what should be done but imv there is no replacement for capitalism and it depends on people manufacturing and buying stuff. Until someone comes up with an alternative (which WOULD be a good film) - For example, let's all live like the 1950s - only those who need them eg firebrigade can have vehicles, everyone who works in manufacturing and selling stuff is paid off and gets a basic wage for doing nothing, we stop wanting stuff (all that precious metal being mined, causing destruction and waste, for all your phones, no one I know is giving up having a phone).
But Ext Reb blame big businesses and this film blames Gov. When really it's us. If Gov banned import of manufactured goods we'd immediately vote them out of office. The Gov can't do it alone without civil war

But that's the whole point. It's not about the UK Government or voting Green in the west. It's about all governments worldwide. All world leaders need to make the decision to ban plastic, etc. and get back to a less wasteful world. We lived perfectly happily for hundreds of years without it, we can do it again. But we won't because leaders won't do it and individuals can't do it.

The Meryl Streep character abandoning the planet and leaving her son there is what will happen. Today's world leaders will be dead by the time the effects of climate change are catastrophic. That's why they don't care and they are leaving their children and grandchildren to die with the plant. Just like the film.

But that's the whole point. It's not about the UK Government or voting Green in the west. It's about all governments worldwide. All world leaders need to make the decision to ban plastic, etc. and get back to a less wasteful world. We lived perfectly happily for hundreds of years without it, we can do it again. But we won't because leaders won't do it and individuals can't do it.
But did we live happily without it? We lived happily without a lot of it but look at things like technology advances. We would help the environment if we cut back on them, both in terms of the physical entities and the power they use, not to forget that everything now is not made to last, but then you're heading back to things being less affordable for people (because you'd have to pay more for them) and people giving up all the daily bits they have come to rely on. Plus people always pass the buck, I'm pretty sure each of the stars involved do so much for the planet in the various things they do, but then take with the other hand. Remember prince harry declaring they'd planted trees to make up for their travel? Everyone's willing to do certain things and not others. How do you make them tally?

[quote Cornettoninja]@MarshaBradyo according to Wikipedia the screenplay was written 2018/19, Netflix deal was signed in 2019 and production started in 2020.

I believe there were a number of edits made post Netflix deal to reflect recent experience of the pandemic (I think DiCaprio contributed once he was on board) but the main screenplay was completed pre-pandemic.[/quote]
That’s interesting thanks

Yes I enjoyed Jennifer Lawrence and the snacks. And I liked the White House being just another workplace with singing happy birthday etc. Overall I felt it dragged a bit, there were a number of times where I felt hmm shall I stick with this?

@PrinzessinCressida -

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

This must have gone completely over my head - unless Yule is meant to be a Jesus figure (which I guess would make sense with the name). What was the reason why?

@Allsorts1

I loved it too. It was interesting seeing the new perception of America reflected in film. My favourite parts were JL pondering the free snacks scene. They did those so well that I laughed out loud each time.

Same! Those were fabulously done!

I liked the bit where Cate Blanchett’s character casually mentions she has three masters degrees and is clearly highly accomplished yet her role is to look glamorous and ditzy and just perve over the hunky astronomer instead of seriously questioning him.

I felt very stressed watching it as it felt very close to home and have been unsettled by it since. The message that trusting big business to solve planetary threats instead of scientists and governments will end in disaster because their primary focus will be the profit that can be made from it is pretty thought-provoking.

Mark Rylance being asked whether his plan was peer reviewed and not answering was a stark contrast to the demands at the start of the film that the astronomers’ calculations be checked over and over by the best scientists from the best universities before being taken seriously.

Bit disappointed after reading/hearing raving reviews, tbh. Mark Rylance good though, as always.

@stayathomer

But that's the whole point. It's not about the UK Government or voting Green in the west. It's about all governments worldwide. All world leaders need to make the decision to ban plastic, etc. and get back to a less wasteful world. We lived perfectly happily for hundreds of years without it, we can do it again. But we won't because leaders won't do it and individuals can't do it. But did we live happily without it? We lived happily without a lot of it but look at things like technology advances. We would help the environment if we cut back on them, both in terms of the physical entities and the power they use, not to forget that everything now is not made to last, but then you're heading back to things being less affordable for people (because you'd have to pay more for them) and people giving up all the daily bits they have come to rely on. Plus people always pass the buck, I'm pretty sure each of the stars involved do so much for the planet in the various things they do, but then take with the other hand. Remember prince harry declaring they'd planted trees to make up for their travel? Everyone's willing to do certain things and not others. How do you make them tally?

You are still thinking too small. It's going to need big changes. Massive. And yes, we will have to give up things that we like to use. But one thing humans are actually good at is adapting.

And the rich will be cushioned the most as has always been. But everyone will have to make sacrifices. Except, are they really? What's really important when you are comparing it to the end of the world.

[quote Aspiringmatriarch]@PrinzessinCressida -

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

This must have gone completely over my head - unless Yule is meant to be a Jesus figure (which I guess would make sense with the name). What was the reason why?[/quote]
Sorry, in my efforts to avoid a spoiler I was too cryptic. I only meant that Yule unexpectedly turns out to be a devoted Christian and can craft a prayer that soothes everyone around the dining table when they could only come up with "Amen". That whole bit made me chuckle. But I do like your Yule/Jesus theory!

Mark Rylance being asked whether his plan was peer reviewed and not answering was a stark contrast to the demands at the start of the film that the astronomers’ calculations be checked over and over by the best scientists from the best universities before being taken seriously

Good spot, I didn’t pick up on that even when DiCaprio was questioning the validity of their drone/robot things.

It’s not the best piece of cinema but I think it’s pretty good. I think I expected what I got from ‘Don’t Look Up’ from ‘Idiocracy’ which was really a truely shit film and could have gotten its point across in a 40 minute episode of the twilight zone.

I thought it was great and figured out the global warming analogy early on. I think if that went over your head then you would have enjoyed it less. There were definitely parallels to the pandemic though so it's interesting to know it was written pre 2020. I loved the bits when they were filming The Daily RIP and how shallow the presenters were (Cate Blanchetts fake white teeth were huge!). The rant Leo had at the end of the film was amazing "What happened to us?!". He isn't wrong. The Ariane Grande song cracked me up - she should release it as a single.

Has anyone seen The Big Short?

By the same guy

Same cameo actor feel, but incredibly well done - about the stock market / sub prime crash but manages to be very funny

I felt like I saw two different movies in one. The first 45 minutes or so was satire with fast editing. Chaotic, not funny and badly written.The only great scene was the talkshow part with Blanchett and Perry. However the last hour was really great where the characters got more depth and the movie was going in one direction.

It was OK but the parallels to climate change kind of irritated me. If you want to make a climate change film then do that, if that makes sense? Don’t disguise it (badly) as a comet.

Actually think it was really good especially with teens. I took the way JL was treated in the media and online and the contrast with the way Leo was treated as a commentary on the sexism so it was good to have that in - man lauded as hunky saviour woman derided as a witch / hate figure for doing exactly the same as the man…!

@Allsorts1

I loved it too. It was interesting seeing the new perception of America reflected in film. My favourite parts were JL pondering the free snacks scene. They did those so well that I laughed out loud each time.

We said that - typical human nature - the end of the world is nigh, but she's still irritated by the snacks scam