L'évaluation

Futuristic Sci-Fi films aren't usually my thing, often because they try to do too much. They often get too many ideas in their head and try to cram them all into one film. 'The Assessment' worked for me because it creates a futuristic world, and then tells a very simple and compelling story within it.

The movie has great, complex and realistic characters, all played by a great cast. The ingredients are all there for this to work. We just need the script to stick the landing. And it does. It's always interesting and thought-provoking for the entire runtime. There's a very dark undertone that keeps you on edge and unsure of exactly where this film will go next or how far it is willing to push things. A great feeling to have when watching a film.

I've said in the past I would love a similar system to this in the current world, where people had to pass an assessment before they were allowed to have children. It's a really interesting idea that is fascinating to explore. 8/10.

I was skeptical about watching this movie. I've been on a movie-marathon this summer & this is one of the movies you wouldn't want to miss!

Elizabeth Olsen surprises me every time. I believe she's one of the few actresses who can actually give an astounding performance in almost any genre.

Alicia Vikander, we've missed you. As I was watching 'The assessment', I couldn't help but remember 'Ex machina' where Alicia also starred in and had a similar genre.

I wanted more from this movie. I wanted more tragedy. More twists. More turmoil. This movie did indeed end shockingly. Hoping for a sequel!

I had heard nothing about this movie except for seeing it on a list of recommended recent sci-fi movies and then seeing the great ratings. I would say it's more "sci-fi ish"; at it's core though it is a fantastic dystopian psychological thriller. All 3 main actors are doing a phenomenal job here (I wish we'd see Alicia Vikander in more stuff!) and it kept me engaged from beginning to end, even the scenes that are less easy to watch. I absolutely recommend it!

Greetings again from the darkness. Authors and filmmakers have long used forecasting the future as the basis for stories. Some have been lighthearted and humorous ("The Jetsons", BACK TO THE FUTURE) and others are more bleak and dystopian (BLADE RUNNER, THE ROAD). The first feature film from director Fleur Fortune (well known for music videos) has some common DNA with the excellent CHILDREN OF MEN (2006) from director Alfonso Cuaron. Written by Neil Garfath Cox, Dave Thomas, and John Donnelly, this story shows us a future where having a kid is a privilege that must be bestowed by the government, rather than free choice.

Mia (Elizabeth Olsen, MARTHA MAY MARLENE, 2011) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel, YESTERDAY, 2019) have built a life and marriage in a desolate area. Mia has a greenhouse where she grows food, and Aaryan has a Virtual Reality room where he experiments with realistic innovations. Both are aiming to improve life of others. They believe that a missing link in their life is a child, and agree to go through the 'assessment' process. When Virginia (Oscar winner Alicia Vikander, THE DANISH GIRL, 2015) arrives, she explains that, as the assessor, her decision is the final word. Mia and Aaryan express that they will be "good parents". Virginia smiles and relays that everyone says that.

The assessment is a seven-day process and calling it bizarre definitely undersells it. At times, Virginia kicks into childlike mode, testing the parental instincts of Mia and Aaryan. It's during these segments where the story gets a bit ridiculous, despite Virginia's explanation that she needs full access to their emotions and reactions (and intimate methods). During a strange dinner party - set up by Virginia - we get discussions of the "old world" existence and the rumors associated with it.

Analysis of the psychology of folks during such times can be quite enlightening, but despite the intriguing concept, the execution leaves us a bit frustrated with the holes and goofy moments. The third act is especially confounding, although we completely understand Mia's quest for answers. Everything circles back to early on when Mia and Aaryan first ask Virginia, "Are we good enough?". We feel their desperation, but once we learn their catchphrase exchange, "I love you. That's right.", we know this isn't headed to unicorns and rainbows.

Opens on March 21, 2025.

Alicia Vikander was already part of a dystopian Sci-Fi drama once (Ex Machina). Now she gets a totally different part in a film that feels like another "Black Mirror" episode and a good one also, nevertheless. From a first gaze of the movie's poster, I wasn't so sure, but when it had ended...so good.

The future, if to be franc and honest, is already here. Dystopian content is almost not any news and more and more films about dark future are rolling in our doorstep. This one is another that speaks about class differences, with a different direction and point of view.

Both Mia and Arian are well educated couple, that contributes to the well-being of the society. Both want to have a child, but the reality which they are living in does not allow reproduction. The government forbids children without supervision which validates that both candidates are suitable to raise children.

The supervision if from an assessor, which lives full week with the couple and determines at its end whether they are capable or not. Meanwhile, the rest of civilization are living in a wasteland and are being treated differently. This part is just mentioned in words and being seen for a very short period of time from the movie, towards the end of it.

The execution of the film was brilliant, and the performances were just outstanding. The plot had several holes and subjects that weren't properly delt, but the final outcome was a movie about parenting experience, fears, anxieties and the complications with being parents in some different magnitude.

This movie was also about the race we are falling behind in - real world against Artificial intelligence. It got its fair share of different type of anxieties, towards a future that is really unclear, but well predicted by a lot of artists in the movies industry.

Elizabeth Olsen's performance was magnetizing. She ruled this movie with so much depth. Himesh Patel was great also, but both female characters were the main issue here. Finally, the biggest performance of all - Alicia Vikander. Wow. I can't stress enough how good she was and was worth watching just for her side of the plot and her performances' weight in the movie.

The movie ended kind of sloppy for me, at least, but it was worth each and every minute of my time and I cannot understand why it got such a low grade. Maybe for being a little bit misunderstood. Maybe the ones who didn't understand it need a re-watch.