A review of Director Bong Joon-ho’s latest sci-fi venture, Mickey 17
Twelve years since the release of Snowpiercer, acclaimed director Bong Joon-ho returns to the science fiction genre with Mickey 17, a visually stunning and thematically ambitious saga. A screen adaptation of Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey7, the dystopian film is set on a distant ice-covered planet and follows Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson), an “Expendable” – worked who signed up to undertake deadly tasks, in exchange for a spot in a human colony. The catch? His memory is storied in a hard drive and every time he dies, he is “reprinted” and thus is on a loop of reincarnation of his previous version. However, chaos erupts when a newer version of himself, Mickey 18 (version 18), is printed due to the misconception that Mickey 17 has demised, which sets off a surreal existential conflict between the who copies, as neither of will volunteers to be discarded.
Right off the bat, Mickey 17 promises a mix of satire, thrill and dark comedy, which are all signature elements of Bong Joon-Ho’s works. Robert Pattinson’s performance as both Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 stands out, two distinct personas – one docile and vulnerable, the other calculative and an executioner, moulded by the shortcomings of the previous versions. The portrayal is both unsettling and entertaining at the same time, providing emotional depth and twisted charm to the movie’s more bizarre scenes.
Mickey 17’s visuals are a treat for cinephiles. Bong’s brings out the dystopian colony’s cold and soulless world to vivid life, the cinematographer did a wonderful job at capturing the icy dread of the planet, while the set designer gave the colony a bleakness, devoid of colour and life, the inhabitants each assigned with a different task they meticulously.
Despite the star-studded entourage and brilliant filmography, the film was inconsistent. The beginning was tight and was energetic, but as the story progressed, the pace lost its momentum, with subplots and new themes being introduced. The concepts of identity, moral crisis and class hierarchy felt overwhelming, and the storyline juggled with multiple tones simultaneously, thus resulting with toned down, and at times slow paced midstory.
This imbalance of tonality is probably the weakest part of the movie. While many would argue this as Bong’s signature style, many would find the messaging diluted and transitions jarring. Totalitarianism, corporate greed and human expendability – these elements were explored in their raw form, unlike the subtlety that of other works by Bong such as Snowpiercer (2013) or Parasite (2013).
That being said, a younger audience or sci-fi enthusiast will film the film fresh and refreshing. The absurd moments and the comedy often levity in a narrative, otherwise driven by the philosophical discourse.
Bong’s vision is unmistakable, his ability to drive both thought and comic relief in a single shot is unparallel. Yet compared to his previous works, Mickey 17 lacks precision, as if the ideas ran ahead of cinematic execution. The film’s impact is hard to deny, and Mickey 17 is packed with moments that will stay with you for weeks, such as the grotesque rebirth sequence as a new Mickey is regenerated, the Mickey 17 vs Mickey 18 standoff, or the hilarious exchange about Mickey’s replaceability. The plot is both unique yet strange, a film that shot for the stars and lost its way in orbit.
Still, it’s hard to deny the film’s impact. Mickey 17 is packed with memorable moments – whether it’s a grotesque rebirth sequence, a tense standoff between clone and clone, or a hilariously bureaucratic exchange about one’s own replaceability. It is both uniquely Bong and uniquely strange, a film that swings for the stars even if it sometimes stumbles in orbit.
Reviewers Verdict: Should you watch Mickey 17?
Of course, if you are up for a slow-paced movie to watch during the weekend, this is perfect for you. With a narrative that is not as tight as Parasite, with the right expectations, it will be an imaginative and daring ride fuelled by Pattinson’s bold performance. Fans of high-concept sci-fi, dark humour, and a plot that will make you contemplate, Mickey 17 offers a chaotic, yet memorable journey that explores what it means to be a human being who is disposable.