I am just speechless (not really) from something I watched today. It was a movie on Netflix called 'Don't Look Up'. I'm not entirely sure what is possessing me to write about it, because I'm sure it's not for everyone. I think what drew me to the film, was my own fascination with the stars and the great beyond. The title kind of got me too and one of my all time favorite movies - 'Inception' - lent Leonardo DiCaprio to the cast. This movie has laughs, drama, technical astronomical chatter, and plenty of cynicism. So, if you are in the mood for a darker apocalyptic satire with a little science fiction and even truth thrown in, then this should wet your pallet.

The Comet

The movie starts in a classroom at Michigan State University in an astronomy course. They were looking through a telescope and Kate (played by Jennifer Lawrence) sees a new comet and informs her professor, Dr. Minty (Leo). As they are doing some mathematical projections to discover its orbit, they realize it is on a collision course with Earth.

They ultimately get a meeting in the oval office shortly thereafter, where they meet the ditzy plastic president (Meryl Streep). She is more concerned with her popularity than really listening to what the scientists in the room are trying to tell her. As it progresses, they do finally heed them and set up a mission to intercept it by putting a racist general (Ron Perlman) at the helm. The mission is aborted as money steps in when a tech company's analysts discover precious resources within the comet.

Symbolism

Not giving away all the scandalous and funny parts, we'll fast forward nearer towards the end of this movie. I found some really interesting symbolic scenes and cinematography that makes me agree with this film getting so many nominations for awards.

One scene I really like, as people are finally coming to grips that this is an extinction level event, is a slow motion cut scene of a honey bee flapping its wings and it almost looks like it has a sad face and is staring directly into humanity's soul. I'm sure @solominer would agree, without the bees, we wouldn't even be here right now.

I also really like a short clip where this cell phone is getting smashed to pieces. Ironic that all the money in the world and all the 'supremely' advanced technology we claim to have, couldn't surmount much more than a scratch on the 'Hammer of God'.

In line with the greed of the controlling one percentile, is this profoundly iconic clip that slaps you with a religious backhand. They literally show a 'Golden Calf' plummeting to earth. I couldn't help but start cackling and actually slow clapped when I saw it.

My favorite part of the whole movie is something out of Lost World or name your favorite pioneering sci-fi show. The elite found a way off of the planet and put themselves in cryostasis as their ship searched for a suitable replacement habitat. Growing to hate the 'president' throughout the movie, her just desserts are absolutely delicious!

Go watch it. Of course, you'll have to carve out a few hours to do so, which was the only drawback, but I'm glad I took a breath and did. Highly entertaining and only furthers my notions that one should always cherish what they have. Also, REMEMBER TO BE YOU! I always am, even when I'm about to smash my own phone.