‘Space Oddity’ Review: The Delusion of Going to Mars

In 1969, David Bowie, probably the greatest artist of the 20th century, released Space Oddity, a song that would become an anthem in future years and that is still as relevant today as before. The story of Major Tom and his situation in space has gone across the airwaves for decades, and we are here, still now, listening to it and even naming feature films after it. Space Oddity is a new film that uses the title of the famous song in a very appropriate way as a metaphor for what is happening in the main character’s life.

Space Oddity, the film, is directed by Kyra Sedgwick, a famous actress, and producer who takes here on the role of director, and stars Kevin Bacon, Kyle Allen, Alexandra Shipp, Madeline Brewer, Simon Helberg, and Carrie Preston. The film tells us the story of Alex, a young man convinced he will go to Mars in the next ten years. Alex assures himself and everyone that he will go there to explore, work, and then die. However, this is just a delusion on the young man’s part. One day, Alex will meet Daisy, an insurance agent who might convince him to stay.

Space Oddity is a very tender movie that has trouble finding its own pacing. The movie moves too slowly for its own good, making things happening on screen feel like they are not important enough. This is not true because the film is tackling mental health issues, which are very significant, especially today. Space Oddity is not a great film, but it isn’t bad. It stays in a sort of limbo that will only make it extremely enjoyable for the right audience in the right circumstances. This is not a fun movie, but an important one.

However, tackling something like mental issues is not a simple task. The subject required nuance, and it has to show that getting better in this type of situation isn’t precisely a walk in the park. The wounds that are placed on our minds cannot heal in the way the flesh. These wounds are deeper and, at times, way more painful than anything else on Earth. So, does Space Oddity tackle this important subject with the importance and nuance it deserves? This is a hard question. There is definitely respect for the subject, but the execution might be lacking.

Why? Because as the movie progresses, the attitude of the main character, who is our main subject dealing with these mental issues, changes too drastically and too easily. Understandably, the movie wants to jump a ton of steps to find the conclusion to the message; a message filled with hope, love, and understanding, but by doing so, it makes the subject feel a bit like just a phase in life, instead of something that might be staying with the person forever. Sometimes, the demons cannot be beaten. You just have to live with them forever.

There are good intentions here, and Sedgwick counts on an excellent cast of actors to tell the story. The mythical Kevin Bacon appears in a very subdued but emotional role that reminds us why we love him in the first place. The actor is accompanied by Kyle Allen, who plays the main character of the piece. Allen has that boy next door quality that makes him endearing, but playing someone is such a level of distraught, as the character he plays here might be a bit out of his league. He doesn’t do a bad job, but sometimes you don’t feel totally convinced by his performance.

Alexandra Shipp shines in the role of Daisy. The actress has been running around for a while, and she has all the ingredients to become a huge star, and yet, her time hasn’t come. However, it is just so good to see her doing a movie occasionally; she is quite talented, and her presence on screen is fabulous. The same can be said for Madeline Brewer. The actress is one of the most talented ones in her generation, and it feels great to see her skills on display wherever she goes. Simon Helberg makes a small appearance that feels more like a cameo.

In terms of visuals, the movie goes for this hard, naturalistic look that feels great with the setting. You can feel that these characters live in a very small, quiet town where not many things happen. The setting does help to create that feeling of isolation that might be affecting the characters’ perception of reality. Nothing here is ultimately a showcase of visual flair, yet it gives Sedgwick a nice calling card for her next projects. Maybe she can risk going a bit further in terms of visuals in the future so they help lift the narrative.

As we progress further and further into the movie, the characters all release their emotions, and it makes for some great moments. Allen might be the weakest link in the ensemble, but he doesn’t get in the way of all the other cast members. It could be said that this is an actors’ movie. The plot is definitely on the thin side, and on a script level, the motivations of some of these characters are too conventional. This doesn’t mean they are impossible, but they do feel a bit too familiar. Familiarity is good, but it will not attract a big audience.

In the end, Space Oddity feels very much like the very small and intimate movie that it is. The actors are the main reason to watch the movie, as they all get their turn in the spotlight. The plot might be a bit too slow, and the events a bit too conventional, which might make you feel like you have watched this movie before. However, the lack of nuance taken concerning the mental issue subject lets the film down. Everything gets solved a bit too easily. Still, this movie could be for you if you want something more laid-back and familiar.

SCORE: 6/10