A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Solaris (2002)

Date Viewed: 11/30/02

Details:

George Clooney (Chris Kelvin)

Natascha McElhone (Rheya Kelvin)

Jeremy Davies

Viola Davis

Ulrich Tukur

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Score: -

The Review: Among science fiction fans of a certain age, I'm probably the only one who never found Stanislaw Lem at all compelling. As with the novels of Philip K. Dick, I found much of Lem's work manifestly uninteresting and marginally impenetrable. Perhaps too arty, perhaps too obscure -- but certainly Samuel Delany and R. A. Lafferty did not fall into the same trap, for I enjoyed them both, and arty and obscure is their hallmark. And then to complicate matters, there was the obscure film version of Solaris from 1972 that left me with no specific memories, only a mood -- of avoidance. Such was my frame of mind on walking into the theatre: nowhere near that of eager awaiting, but a willingness to see if I'd been mistaken in my youth.

Alas, this version of Solaris is a sleepy, action-less psychological drama with a core of science-fiction. The production values as a movie qua movie are excellent, but that is the most positive statement I can offer. It is decidedly not an action movie, but on the other hand, I did not find much for the mind to feast upon either. Chris Kelvin (Clooney) is called to inspect a far distant space station around the newly discovered planet Solaris, chosen for this task both for his professional background as analytic psychiatrist and for his personal difficulties in the wake of the death of his beloved wife Rheya (McElhone). The science-fiction core element is essential to the plot, but for all that, it could instead be a poorly executed Henry James drama.

The primary take-away image from the entire film is that of Rheya's face, which is exotic and beautiful with soulful eyes. She does the "mischievous sexy" look quite well, and I look forward to better roles for her. Clooney is wasted in his role. Lem has taken another hostage.

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