Mickey 17

[DaveC426913]

Saw Mickey 17, a sci-fi comedy, based on Mickey 7, by Edward Ashton, which I read and thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed.

I am fascinated by stories of identity and the meaning of selfness.

Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattison - of 'Sparkly Vampire' infamy) is running from a loan shark and, to escape the price on his head, signs up for an off-world trip to a new colony.

The only way he could get selected is as an 'Expendable' - which is exactly what it sounds like: he gets all the suicide missions - anything that is likely to get him killed - and they do. He gets his body reprinted and his memories re-downloaded each time - which makes for a really interesting character.

The film followed the book mostly closely, though they played up a few angles and played down some others - even inventing new characters. I approve of this - a movie tends to need a more direct story arc than a book. Ultimately, they got to the same place in the end.

It was very funny. Mark Ruffalo played the insufferable villain and Toni Collette was his ditzy schmoopsie-poopsie. Also, bonus points for working in the Wilhelm Scream.

 

[Klystron]

I am fascinated by stories of identity and the meaning of selfness.

Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattison - of 'Sparkly Vampire' infamy) is running from a loan shark and, to escape the price on his head, signs up for an off-world trip to a new colony.

Shades of Phillip K. Dick (PKD). PKD often sent characters to off-world colonies to motivate the plot. For example "UBIK" for ubiquitous, is a fascinating satire with a perfunctory space colony. Your 'Mickey' story and movie sound interesting and well developed.

If interested in identity, Robert Pattison gives a deeply moving performance opposite veteran actor Willem Dafoe ("Streets of Fire", Platoon", Green Goblin in "Spiderman") in "The Lighthouse". The story certainly contains SF elements with a mysterious female mermaid entity persuing outcasts on an isolated storm-wracked island.

 

[DaveC426913]

If interested in identity, Robert Pattison gives a deeply moving performance opposite veteran actor Willem Dafoe ("Streets of Fire", Platoon", Green Goblin in "Spiderman") in "The Lighthouse". The story certainly contains SF elements with a mysterious female mermaid entity persuing outcasts on an isolated storm-wracked island.

The Lighthouse has come across my radar before - though I cannot remember in exactly what context.

 

[Klystron]

The Lighthouse has come across my radar before - though I cannot remember in exactly what context.

I have watched "The Lighthouse" twice on premium channels but difficult to recommend as it is exceedingly dark. The acting is terrific along with Pattison's character development over the course of the film. It resembles a 'locked room mystery' in that the two characters are almost completely isolated except for seagulls and delusions. Identity becomes paramount. At one point both characters share the same name:Thomas, if I remember correctly.

Odd how many recent lighthouse based novels and movies there are. The first time I watched "The Lighthouse" I could swear I saw the scenes with the Fresnel lens before. Either I read a source novel in the past or the director lifted scenes from an older flick, or both.

I have reserved a copy of Mickey17 at my online public library. The app mentions Mickey7 but does not seem to have it available to read.