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Despite being directed speak in breathy, mumbly whispers, each of the actors finds interesting layers in his or her character. Kwanten gives Jack a fit but exhausted physicality, a man who is suddenly wasting away just as he falls in love. So it's no surprise that these two things are related. Nguyen has plenty of presence as April, even if her role remains sketchy. And Weaving brings his usual sparky gruffness, livening up his scenes as much as he can.

It's clear that Sen has a lot of ambition, creating impressive visuals on a budget while stirring big themes into the narrative. But most viewers will be sedated by the slow pace and the way everyone speaks under their breath. This leaves the story so understated that it's barely on-screen at all. The central idea seems to question whether it's a good or bad thing if science makes it possible for us to live forever. Frustratingly, Sen only uses this as a plot point.

themes, language, violence

8.Nov.22

Minifie's detailed, endearing performance sustains an unusually layered narrative, allowing us to see Johnny within Melanie's physicality. There's also an internal dialog playing out in voiceover between Melanie and Johnny, as both try to work out what's going on and how to get through it. Johnny shuts down her consciousness now and then to make his own discoveries and wrestle with unexpected feelings. Meanwhile, there's Melanie's life to deal with, as she needs to help her friends (Walker and Bedi) prepare for the birth of a child.

Ideas swirling around in this film are enormous, so it helps that the film maintains a gentle pace, tightly focussed on Johnny's perspective as he copes with various momentous situations while in Melanie's skin. Through his little-boy eyes, this is the most amazing and also the most terrifying day ever. The main thing he learns is that his identity isn't defined by his gender or how he expresses it. And maybe it's nice to be a child for a little while longer at least.

themes, language

7.Nov.22

With the only proper characters in the story, Benson and Moorhead deliver easy, naturalistic performances with contrasting personalities that adds a nice zing to their interaction. Levi's earnest, curious stoner vibe is irresistible, while John has a more investigative, problem-solving mindset. Their differing approaches to this conundrum inventively dig beneath the surface, so their unlikely friendship becomes fascinating. By contrast, their clashing personal issues sometimes feel a bit forced, even if there are smart touches at every step.

The premise creatively plays with the idea of shaking up things that we have always held as immutable, from childhood fantasies to religious beliefs. Levi and John continually float explanations about what might be happening here, referencing their most confusing dreams and memories, as well as past events from the area, including how the surrounding city seems to be laid out in an echoing triangular design. It's a terrific riff on the patterns that seem to exist in everything around us, noting that we will never stop trying to understand them.

themes, language, violence

1.Nov.22