Visual Parallels: Solaris + Annihilation

12 cinematic and television gems I found because of my actor crushes

My way of watching films? See everything the actor I adore is in. I've recently acquired such obscure stuff with Stephen Dillane that I'm amazed I even managed to find it (and thanks to everyone who helped!). I don't care what imdb rating is. I don't even care what the movie is about. If he is in it, I'll watch it.

It's a technique I employed for years and while I have seen so much shit (Idris Elba really needs to be in better movies, seriously) there are several films which I watched and absolutely adored that I wouldn't have found if it wasn't for my love for that one particular actor who is in it. And almost all of those are completely unknown to the general public, so yet again let me shine a light on these true gems I found, hoping that you guys manage to find them and watch them:

Movie of the Month - December - Solaris

You are all I see

For the beautiful and somber month of DecemberII decided to chose Solaris, hugely under appreciated and misunderstood movie directed by Steven Soderbergh. The film, based on brilliant and difficult novel by Stanisław Lem, focuses on just one part of the story - the love the protagonist Chris and his now deceased wife Rheya share.

Some time after Rheya commits suicide, Chris is called by his friend and asked to fly to mysterious ocean-like planet Solaris. The ship that was investigating the planet had some trouble on board and when Chris gets there he finds out the truth - some of the crew members were driven insane because the planet has the mysterious ability to duplicate their loved ones who died. During his first night on the ship, Chris wakes up next to Rheya. Though he gets rid of her first duplicate, when she comes back again he finds himself unable to let go of his love.

Soundtrack Wednesday - Solaris

Artist: Cliff Martinez
Song: Don't Blow It
Movie: Solaris

Solaris

(99 min, 2002)
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writers: Stanislaw Lem (novel), Steven Soderbergh (screenplay)
Stars: George Clooney, Natascha McElhone and Ulrich Tukur 

everything you DESIRE... 
everything you FEAR..

everything you THINK....
becomes REAL.

(spoilers)

I'm just so overwhelmed by the harmful opinions about this movie. It has been trashed by public, by critics, by almost everyone. Yet when I looked at forums, reviews and comments about "Solaris" it has occurred to me that nobody actually made the effort to understand the movie. And it's both a shame and a waste.

Steven Soderbergh made a true, cinematic masterpiece. He captured the very idea of love, the emotion, the feeling itself in carefully composed film frames, in two heartbreaking performances from George Clooney and Natasha NcElhone and with help of Cliff Martinez in heartbreaking, stunningly beautiful music.

"And death shall have no dominion"
Chris Kelvin lost his wife. He's in grief. It was his fault and now it's too late. Few years later he's being called to arrive on spaceship inspecting mysterious planet - Solaris. Shortly after that event, his dead wife...reappears.

"Dead men naked they shall be one with the man in the wind and the west moon."
It is so simple to understand that movie, the only thing you have to do is to open your heart and carefully observe. We see all the events from Chris's point of view, except for one short scene concerning Rheya.