My quick rating - 4.5/10. When i saw "Steven Soderbergh presents" I had a feeling of what I was in for. This flick is an avant-garde exploration of dystopian themes, but it struggles to maintain the balance between art-house presentation and coherent storytelling. Directed by Eddie Alcazar, the film revolves around two brothers crashing into a desolate Earth in an effort to stop a capitalist’s heinous exploitation of humanity for the sake of an immortality serum. The premise undoubtedly had me intrigued, but its execution leaves much to be desired. The film’s black-and-white cinematography is its strongest feature, providing a visually striking and atmospheric aesthetic. However, this polished visual style feels like a mask for the film’s deeper shortcomings. The ambitious tone and abstract presentation clash with the underdeveloped writing, leading to a story that, while heavy on allegories, lacks the emotional depth and narrative coherence needed to truly resonate. Scott Bakula stands out as the only cast member who seems genuinely invested in his role. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the rest of the ensemble. Performers like Stephen Dorff and Bella Thorne, who typically deliver solid work, come across as stiff and disengaged. This lack of enthusiasm saps the film of much-needed energy and further disconnects us from the story. Thematically, the film offers straightforward metaphors about the dangers of unchecked capitalism and humanity’s self-destructive tendencies. While these ideas are relevant and compelling, the film doesn’t delve into them with the depth they deserve. Instead, it seems overly reliant on its visual elements to carry the narrative, leaving the story feeling hollow and disjointed. One of the film’s most glaring issues is its pacing. Certain scenes drag on unnecessarily, while others feel rushed or incomplete, giving the impression that key moments were either trimmed down or omitted altogether. This uneven pacing makes it difficult to fully engage with the characters or their journey. Ultimately, Divinity is a film tailored to a niche audience, one that appreciates ambitious, experimental filmmaking even when it falters. While I can respect its creative risks and allegorical aspirations, the lackluster performances, disjointed storytelling, and inconsistent pacing weigh it down. It’s a visually interesting piece of cinema, but one that fails to leave a lasting impression. If you’re a fan of art-house films and can overlook some glaring flaws, this might be worth a watch. For everyone else, it’s likely to be a frustrating experience that doesn’t quite live up to its potential.
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