re:mote voices

Title: Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow

Cast: Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Bai Ling

Director: Kerry Conran

The most striking thing about Sky Captain is the techniques which have been used in creating it. All of the actors have performed in front of green screens, with all the scenery and detail being added by computer in post-production. Which in some ways is brilliant and allows for a truly striking visual set, however it is also at the core of the films problems. For years there have been a variety of films which have used these kind of techniques to some degree – from Tom and Jerry to Jar Jar Binks. With that it seems sad that after all these years that those behind Sky Captain have so miss cast leads who seem incapable of reacting to their invisible backgrounds in an appropriate manner. But then giving Jude Law’s role in production, it perhaps seems self-indulgent that he went on to be such a poor star for the film. However, that does seem to some up Law’s distinctly average career to date.

Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow takes its starting point from Metropolis and Saturday morning serials like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers – that sort of proto science fiction adventure. The results are at times stunning, the heavily designed attack robots, and colouration/filtration of the film. However even with that there are times where it just doesn’t sit right. Little incongruities that pop up from start to finish that start to rub the viewer up the wrong way. Add to that the grating screen chemistry between the leads, and the way they deliver their lamentable dialogue and one gets the urge to stand up and walk out early on. Even Michael Gambon seems to radiate impressions of “what am I doing here”, which are contrasted by Angelina Jolies “you should see what I’m getting paid for this shit” performance. Yet somehow we stay, foolishly hoping that it will somehow all be redeemed in the end. Unfortunately the film ultimately only delivers one decent performance, and that is by the mystery woman played by Bai Ling, much of which no doubt comes from the fact I can’t actually recall her having a single line of dialogue.

I had high hopes for Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow. In so many ways it should work, and it should work really well. So it was with some surprise I found myself with a growing sense of loathing for the piece.