By Sofia Webster, Co-Deputy Editor
Mickey 17 marks the release of Bong Joon Ho’s eighth feature film – the sci-fi/dark comedic project directed and envisioned through the eyes of a filmmaker well-known for taking an idea and spinning it completely on its head. As expected, (if Joon Ho’s previous film Parasite was anything to go by) the film was packed with twists and turns that could almost be perceived as too crazy to be real – very much marking a role that solidifies Robert Pattinson as an actor who should not be messed with, straying very far from his vampire roots.
Mickey 17 stars Robert Pattinson in the titular role of Mickey Barnes – a bankrupt American man racked up to the eyeballs in debt from taking out a loan for his failed macaron business. After being extensively warned, both he and his friend stroke business partner Timo are threatened with being 'chased to the ends of the Earth’ by a loan shark should they fail to pay back their debt imminently. From this, the duo decided to take that threat quite literally and leave on a one-way expedition to colonise the planet Niflheim, with Mickey as the spaceship’s only ‘expendable’. The film opens to the audience meeting Mickey having already been expended 16 times prior… hence the title.
Based off Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel Mickey7, the film was adapted and brought to life for the screen by Bong Joon Ho who wrote, directed and produced this film – and with that, put his signature spin on the original concept depicting an ambitious sci-fi backdrop rooted in critical existential questions on what it means to be human and where technology is taking humanity moving forward.
I personally found the film to be a very insightful and gripping watch and thought Robert Pattinson did a fantastic job as Barnes, who (I am sure those who watched the film will agree) is not an easy role to play, especially since throughout the film Pattinson impeccably plays the dual roles of Mickey 17 and Mickey 18. This role quite frankly could not be further from his Twilight roots, with each Mickey having rather nuanced qualities – the underlying insecurities of 17 compliments (or rather balance out) the feistiness of 18, making for a film that keeps you on the edge of your seat and impressively justifies its 137-minute running time.
With supporting roles from Naomi Ackie as Barnes’ love interest Nasha, Steven Yeun as frenemy Timo and the ever-brilliant Mark Ruffalo as a Donald Trump-esque leader of this astronomical mission Kenneth Marshall alongside Toni Collette as his wife Ylfa, there really is a star-studded cast taking part in a film quite unlike anything I have seen before (in a good way!) – there is sci-fi, and dark comedy, with some adventure chucked in for good measure.
Mickey 17 is a great film to watch in the cinema, the twists and turns keep you guessing what will happen next, and is a captivating sci-fi experience. Saying this, the undeniably wacky concept will naturally mean the film is not for everyone and compared to Joon Ho’s previous film Parasite I don’t think this will have as long-lasting an impact. That being said, if you are enticed by any of the genres mentioned above, I would still not hesitate to give this film a watch!
Did you enjoy Mickey 17?
