Is it me or are there more superheroes and horror movie releases these past few months? Anyway, thankfully there's always a film to break the trend and give viewers something refreshing to see and reflect on. Adapted from M. T. Anderson’s book of the same name, Landscape With Invisible Hand (2023) is an American satirical sci-fi with promise.
Set in the year 2036, another two decades from now (hopefully not!), an alien species called the Vuvv take over the leadership of Earth after observing our planet since the 1950s. They have advanced technology and decide to improve the economy for a few of the populace willing to dance to their tune. But they lack empathy.
https://youtu.be/lAD81wjRnL8?si=InLLW4vNj0ZTC9EFSource: YouTube
As many people struggle to survive under the Vuvv leadership, Adam Campbell (played by Asante Black), a high school student who loves to draw and paint, meets a fellow art student, Chloe (played by Kylie Rogers), whose family is displaced. He invites them to live in their basement until they can pay rent. This arrangement makes his mother, Beth (played by Tiffany Haddish) uncomfortable because they are barely holding on.
Adam and Chloe spend more time together and slowly begin to fall in love. Chloe then suggests they record their relationship and stream it live for the Vuvv to watch. In return, as their viewers increase, they get paid. Things began to look good for this couple until the focus was more on getting viewers and making more money than their emotions. Will this young couple survive the reign of the Vuvv on Earth or will they find another way?
Review
Like most sci-fi, Landscape With Invisible Hand is dystopian themed but refreshing and quirky. Why quirky? You'll understand in a bit. The plot is fascinating and centred around an weird alien race that comes to Earth and quickly becomes the new controlling power due to their advanced technology. Humans become slaves to this alien race in a bid to survive. The storytelling is not bad but the jumps from one subplot to another without a definite resolution doesn't look good on the film.
The initial focus is on Adam and Chloe displaying their love to the Vuvv but then they take a break when the strain of the reality show becomes too much. Then the film jumps to focus on Beth in a pretend marriage with a young Vuvv and they play house for a while. This subplot is cut short when Beth gets a good job and leaves the house while Adam paints his school building inviting the attention of the Vuvv leaders. Even this interesting part of the film fizzles out without a satisfying conclusion. These make up the quirks in the film. I'm not sure if it's some cinema strategy on director Cory Finley's part but it doesn't work for me.
The performance of the cast is great. I've always loved Tiffany Haddish ever since her breakout role in Girls Trip (2017). She's compelling in this film and really embodies the role of a mother with two kids trying to survive in a dystopian world. I like that she's calm without the use of many swear words unlike her other films. Asante Blackk too did okay but this is the first time I'm seeing him in a movie.
The visuals and cinematography are good. There are no dull or gloomy settings typical of the dystopian sci-fi genre.
Overall, this film is an interesting mix of gross aliens, love reality show and art as a form of resistance. It's refreshing and worth watching once. I'll give it 2.9 stars out of 5.
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Other images are screenshots from the movie
Posted using CineTV
