If there’s one upcoming movie that is still a major question mark, it’s Adam McKay’s “Don’t Look Up.” A trailer has finally been released this morning and it definitely looks like a bitingly satirical affair.
A few versions of the film have been test-screened since last spring. One was said to be a more serious cut, the second was deemed to be the more comedic version. I am not entirely sure which one was chosen for release, but, judging by the numerous clips and trailers we have seen thus far, it does look as though the more comedic version has been chosen for release by McKay and Netflix.
Regardless, “Don’t Look Up” has been screened the past week or two for the WGA, DGA and a few select critics. It will be officially unveiled on Thursday to critics with social media reactions allowed.
The 145 minute film has been receiving polarizing reactions from its early screenings, with just a scant few actually hating it. In fact, I’m getting the same vibes from these mixed reactions as I got from McKay’s last film, “Vice,” which had a mixed reception in advanced screenings before being wholly embraced by the Academy with 8 Oscar nominations.
A reader who saw the film at a recent test screening in June told me that it was a global warming satire with a lot of the same meta-editing McKay brought to his last two films (“The Big Short” “Vice”). This person also mentioned Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Rylance (playing a Bill Gates/Warren Buffet-type) as the most likely to receive awards attention.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Lawrence’s lead scientist isn’t much of a chewy role for the actress as she is mostly used as a narrative device for the audience. Timothee Chalamet, and Cate Blanchett have limited supporting roles. The version that is being screened runs a whopping 2 hours and 25 minutes in length and is said to be very “Brecht-ian.”
The main gripe for detractors of the film has to do with tonal aspect of the narrative which ranges from dark drama to goofy comedy. McKay seems to have created a high-wire balancing act of genres, whether it ends up working is a question that could be answered after Thursday’s screening.
The man doesn't stop. James Gunn has confirmed he's already hard at work writing his next film, even as ‘Man of Tomorrow’ makes its way toward theaters next summer.