Actors: Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Noah Taylor
Directors: Michael and Peter Spierig
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Run Time: 98 minutes
Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars
“Predestination” is one of those films that I can watch over and over again to catch all of the subtle nuances that I may have missed in a previous viewing. A sci-fi mind bender that explores the topic of time travel and how the actions of a small group of people can have a profound global effect, Predestination is more character-centric than previous films that tackled the same topic. It’s because of this that the viewer gets sucked into a perfectly crafted film by Writers/Directors Michael and Peter Spierig, with extremely witty dialogue, a complete puzzle of a story line, oh, and a series of plot twists that are more satisfactory with each step towards the film’s crescendo. Trust me when I say that if you think you’ve got Predestination figured out, you don’t, at least until the very end, when the credits roll and you have a moment to digest exactly what you’ve been watching.
Official Synopsis: Based on the short story “-All You Zombies-” by Robert A. Heinlein, Predestination chronicles the life of a Temporal Agent (Ethan Hawke) sent on an intricate series of time-travel journeys designed to ensure the continuation of his law enforcement career. Now, on his final assignment, the Agent pursues the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time.
Sony Home Entertainment brings Predestination to life in a beautiful 1080p high definition/ 2.40:1 transfer, which very much enhances the set pieces designed by the Spierig Brothers. The colors of the 1950’s and 60’s are extremely vivid and nostalgic, but not so prominent that it can distract the viewer from the story unfolding before their eyes. Included as bonus features on the blu-ray are a blooper reel, a featurette titled “A Journey Through Time” and an exclusive 75 minute documentary on bringing the film to life. After speaking with the Spierig brothers regarding the making of the film, I found the blu-ray exclusive documentary to be a fantastic exploratory device for the film’s origins and creation. This disc is HIGHLY recommended for fans of the Spierig’s previous offering “Daybreakers” and for science fiction fans that are interested in a great time travel story with a minimalist approach.
