Billy (Mark Duplass) and Ray (Sterling K. Brown) are lifelong best friends, brothers from another mother – and the last two men on earth. Their survival is largely due to Ray, a brilliant scientist who designed a domed structure with all the systems necessary to sustain life on a planet that could no longer support it. Their custom biosphere is outfitted with basic necessities and creature comforts that make it possible to retain a sense of what life used to be like. A hydroponic garden provides fresh vegetables and a carefully managed fishpond supplies essential protein. Recently, however, fish have begun dying at an alarming rate. With a mere three fish remaining, Billy and Ray face an ominous future. But life may yet find a way.
Synopsis
Occasionally, an independent film comes out of nowhere and rocks your core emotionally, with an elegant and poignant effect. This year it seems destined that Mel Eslyn’s ‘Biosphere’ is that movie this year that will get a lot of Award buzz for Best Original Screenplay when it comes Fall this year. Also written by leading man, Mark Duplass who has given us multiple unique films and series, this film is no different. ‘Biosphere’ gives us a movie that should be one of the most talked about movies of the Summer, at least if you’ve seen it, you’ll be talking to your friends about “What just happened”. It’s truly a film unlike anything you’ve seen.
Mel Eslyn makes only her second film here, which you could never tell. As she commands the best out of Mark Duplass and Sterling K. Brown, who gives us his best big screen performance. The chemistry between Sterling and Mark makes us believe they’ve been on this ‘Biosphere’ for years, maybe even a decade. It’s seamless for us to watch these thespians act on screen together, giving us a movie we could put in a time capsule and show multiple generations on the art of filmmaking. The story of reproduction in this film is quite remarkable and will be divisive when it comes to audience members, for pushing the boundaries of what we could believe could happen. Once it happens, there’s no denying how intimate the movie gets between Mark and Sterling, both of which deliver difficult roles.
Mel Eslyn asks us to question everything we know with the story around ‘Biosphere’ one of which is impossible to discuss without spoiling it. Once you see it. You could say “Life Finds a Way”. ‘Biosphere’ is probably the boldest independent science fiction film since Danny Boyle’s ‘Sunshine’ while this film isn’t nearly as uneven as ‘Sunshine’ Mel Eslyn’s ‘Biosphere’ shines in more ways than one. I cannot recommend this movie enough for brave moviegoers. It will be a refreshing film for the time of the year that is obsessed with sequels and IP’s. ‘Biosphere’ is currently in select cinemas and on VOD.
Overall Grade: 4/5 Stars
