After Yang

Manuel São Bento 2/21/2022 7:16:23 PM 8.4

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/after-yang-spoiler-free-review-sundance-2022 "After Yang may have some pacing issues, but Kogonada's beautifully thoughtful storytelling and ASKA's unforgettable, tear-inducing score transform this piece into a contemplative, inspirational cinematic experience. A profound, sincere study of what it means to be a family, what it means to be loved, and how important it is to remember where we come from. A fascinating look into the core of humanity through the heart of a robot - both literally and figuratively. Exceptional performances, but Colin Farrell stands out with a subtle yet potent performance. Occasionally, it loses itself amid its admittedly gorgeous wide, static shots. Still memorable, nonetheless." Rating: B+

CinemaSerf 9/24/2022 3:50:28 PM 8.4

When a futuristic family are doing their daily exercise regime one morning, the robotic companion for the young "Mika" (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja) has a bit of a freeze. Pestered by the - frankly annoying - child, mum (Jodie Turner-Smith) and dad (Colin Farrell) decide it has to be fixed, so the latter takes it to a friend of a friend after it transpires their warranty doesn't cover "core" failure. Anyway, his new diagnostician suspects that the chip that controls the young "Yang" might contain secret spyware - and suggests that he goes to visit a scientist who might be able to open up the chip and get to the truth. It's got elements of iRobot (2004) to it, but otherwise I found it all a little too sterile. The story is delivered via flashbacks mixed within the contemporaneous plot, but essentially this is just a rather dry observation of a fairly unremarkable family whose toy has broken down. Such more sinister elements to the film as there are - a few big brother-esque themes - are largely undercooked. There is hardly any of Turner-Smith on screen, and what there is doesn't gel at all well with a Farrell who has lost much of his on-screen charisma and is now little better than a jobbing actor whose face we recognise. Perhaps it does tell us something about love and of the nature of affection, but only superficially and I can't say I found there to be much to write about with this. Sorry - it will look fine on the television, I wouldn't bother a cinema with it.

Nathan 11/25/2022 9:21:55 PM 8.4

I really liked what _After Yang_ was attempting to do. There was a really deep, interesting story about loss, but unfortunately the weight of the topic drowned this movie. The movie was barely 90 minutes long and it felt like eternity watching. The emotional impact was destroyed by the slow pacing. In my opinion, this movie had no business being as long as it did. There was not enough material in order to make a feature length film and would have been better suited at a short film. **Score:** _57%_ | **Verdict:** _Decent_