Quanta

I've never met a scientist as dull and lifeless as they are portrayed in movies. I get that Hollywood types don't encounter people with above average intelligence in their daily lives. If they'd venture beyond their self-induced ignorance chamber once in a while they'd be shocked to learn scientists are real, actual human beings with personalities and interests beyond their area of expertise.

The premise of this movie was interesting but the script made it deadly. I dozed off several times and had to rewind, only to see I missed absolutely nothing. The film could be cut down to a commercial without losing anything. Half the film is about how rich the scientists will become creating a radio to listen to aliens so far advanced we're all Hollywood types in comparison. It simply makes no sense.

As for the dialog: words cannot express what those words could not express.

Three stars for an interesting concept. Zero stars for the plodding direction, atrocious acting, dreary sets, dull background music, first year film student camera work, and tepid editing.

Three stars.

This is a very watchable movie from down under. Full of science lingo and tech jargon that's sure to please anyone interested in that sort of stuff, which I am. There was enough solid sounding math, science, and technology terminology to keep the film grounded in this universe though. The acting and overall production was quite pleasing given the low budget type film, which by the way was way better than most other low budget films I've seen. The overall premise of the film was solid and had good mystery and fulfilling drama with characters trying to solve impossible problem, working out the details to get problem solved, animosity and confrontation between characters, family drama, character flaws, compromise, global impact, etc, etc....The script was also brilliantly written given all the math and science lingo that went into this film, plus it moved at a good pace so you didn't get bogged down to much in any one of the plot points. Although a little bit of the acting was cheesy, most of it was very good and I never felt like fast forwarding or turning it off. Plus none of the characters committed the ultimate sin of 'people doing totally unrealistic and stupid things that nobody in any frame of mind would ever do'. I hate that type of drama, which is rampant, and I start yelling at the TV. Those writers need to scratch their heads a bit more and make it more believable. There was none of that in this film. The production was also very high given the budget and the props and technology displayed were spot on and led to the credibility of the film. This is a film you should see if science and technology are your thing. Way to go.

This one's a mashup of "Flowers for Algernon" (Daniel Keyes, 1958) and "Contact" (Carl Sagan, 1985). Although it's derivative, the combo is really something fresh and new. Nathan Dalton manages to create a compelling story by taking elements of those two old science fiction classics and weaving them into a film that keeps you glued to the screen. There's real character development, plenty of clues to help the audience follow the plot, and lots of techno speak that's actually consistent with known science. (Although the idea of "radiation" from "dark" matter is somewhat of an oxymoron.) There are a few other instances of creative license, but for the most part it's believable.

The part where it departs from reality is in the motivations and behaviors of the characters. They seem to make unnatural decisions at times and don't always act like real people. But it's not uncommon in film to bend character behavior to advance the plot, so you just suspend disbelief and enjoy the movie.

The sound track was great. It set the mood and really helped provide clues about the plot and the emotions of the characters. The cinematography was likewise supportive of the moods and plot and didn't overpower the action happening on the screen. The acting performances, from relatively unknown actors, was superb. All these elements in the final product (with an insanely tiny budget) point to an extremely competent director whom I'm sure we have not heard the last of.

Overall, a great film if you are looking for a character-driven drama/scifi with lots of thought-provoking dialogue and you don't care about tons of special effects and starship shootouts.

Triggers: brief headline text ~80wpm, one subtle and minor ethnic reference

Shot really well. Good Australian film, deserves a wider release. Well written, interesting story and shot well, what more do you want?

The sci-fi story itself is compelling and refreshingly original. The writing is tight, natural, and engaging, drawing you in from the very beginning. Characters feel authentic and layered, and the pacing keeps the narrative moving without ever feeling rushed.

It's the kind of film that lingers with you-thought-provoking yet accessible, entertaining yet meaningful. Honestly, it deserves a much wider release and audience. With a strong script, striking visuals, and a clear creative vision, what more could you ask for in a film?

One wouldn't necessarily hold that the acting wasn't adequate, or that the production was poor for a low-budget offering, and the premise, which immediately reminded me of Contact (1997), is also intriguing.

Unfortunately, however, the overall presentation just seemed lacking in any real drama. I wasn't in the least invested in the characters or even the outcome and some of the things which occur seem to have been put in to try and flesh out the story somewhat.

It could have been something pretty good, but, in the end, I was just left with a ho-hum feeling of disappointment and missed opportunity.