"Who made this video? So realistic!"
I am drawn to the video he is watching as soon as I arrive at my friend's house. Meryl Streep is in high spirits, giving a dignified public speech. And next to him, Leonardo DiCaprio stands there without any word, wearing glasses. Besides, Jennifer Lawrence is there too. And she is a little nervous.
My friend looks at me and says, "This is a real movie."
I respond, "I know, but who edits these movies? It is really good."
My friend takes another look at me and says, "This is a movie really made by these people, not cut by netizens."
I realize he isn't joking, but the plot in the video is hilarious. I ask, "What's the name of this movie?"
“Don't Look Up.”
Out of uncontrollable curiosity, I watch the film with the stunning cast all over again when I get home. The video cast will not be listed here. You can check it yourself, I believe you will be surprised. The following are spoilers. If you don't want to watch spoilers, you can drag to the end and view my point directly.
As the story begins, astronomer Dr. Mindy Mindy and his student Kate accidentally discover a huge comet. The comet is as big as the Everest, and it will hit the Earth in more than 6 months. By then, almost all creatures on the Earth will be wiped out, including humans. So, they immediately go to NASA to report the situation. After encountering the inaction of the relevant personnel time and time again, they are introduced to the White House, and the general takes them to meet the president.
They wait anxiously at the White House all day, and the general even blackmails them of their snack payment. As a result, they are notified that the meeting is canceled, and they could come back the next day.
The next day, they finally meet the president, but it is obvious that the person in the president's office has just been on drugs. The president is even less dignified, sitting like a monkey. Kate is simply courageous. She recounts directly to the president that they discover that the comet is about to hit the Earth. However, the president seems unresponsive. She either talks about her midterm elections, or looks for cigarettes, and even tells a story that she was caught after smoking. The president doesn't care about the discovery at all. Dr. Mindy and Kate return with disappointment.
Therefore, they decide to expose the discovery through a media, thereby attracting public attention. They come to a TV show dedicated to spilling the news, and the production team likes their news. However, they are arranged to enter the stage after an Internet singer (Ariana Grande), who sings catchy songs. The singer asks her ex-boyfriend to propose online through the show, and also releases a new song along the way. The news goes viral in an instant.
By the time they come out, no one is interested in the news that the comet is about to hit the Earth. The hostess winks at Dr. Mindy while interviewing. Kate couldn't bear it anymore and gets angry on the show. Then, the show ends abruptly. After the show, Kate is attacked by netizens, but Dr. Mindy becomes the sexiest scientist on the internet.
When the two are at a loss, the unsympathetic president is caught in a scandal. Her popularity plummets because of the nude photos of her and her lover. In order to save the situation, the president remembers those two. She sends the FBI to arrest two weak scholars into the White House, in a way of arresting dangerous criminals.
The president now needs to put on a show so that she can be supported by the nation. She is determined to win the midterm elections at all costs. She requires her staff to devise a plan to save the planet. By launching a rocket loaded with drones, the Comet will be deviated from its original orbit after being hit, so that the comet will not hit the Earth. The president takes the plan very seriously, to turn public opinion. However, she wants to do more than that. She asks that someone must be sent to die with the Rockets. Because everything will be greater when "someone" make it.
After the announcement, the discovery that the comet is about to hit Earth finally is paid great attention by the news media. Dr. Mindy begins to feel the joy of fame. Although he is married, he has an affair with the hostess of the TV show, which he never dares to think about.
As time goes by, the rockets are ready to be launched. People all over the country are looking forward to the hitting. However, the rockets change their course shortly after the launch! People are confused, why do the rockets turn around?
Then, Peter Isherwell, an egocentric mobile phone giant, shows up. He recently discovers that the comet is rich in rare minerals. And he will have absolute capital and extreme power, if he could transfer these rare minerals to the Earth. He is free to enter and leave the White House office. And he is influential enough to make a difference to the outcome of presidential election. Of course, he can also stop the rocket launch.
In a later secret meeting, Peter explains his own way to save the Earth, and can gain the minerals at the same time. He's going to send his company's drones up there to blow up the comet as huge as the Himalayas. After the explosion, he can continue mining and obtain resources with drones. Dr. Mindy is directly annoyed by the absurd discussion.
After the meeting, Dr. Mindy informs Kate of Peter's plans. Kate's angry again. She tells everyone that humans are over. Then, before humanity is truly over, she is required to sign a non-disclosure agreement for her behavior: shut up forever or go to jail.
She chooses to shut up. Then she goes back in dismay and becomes a cashier in a supermarket. Besides, the life of Dr. Mindy is also disrupted. He is overwhelmed by fame and fortune, and his family gets broken. As an astronomer, he hopes to do right things by reviewing Peter's plan. It doesn't take long for him. Like Kate, he is also kicked out.
Dr. Mindy remembers that TV show. He gets back to the show again. Without the tension and anxiety before, he curses at the president, politics and capitalists. However, the grumpy content doesn't elicit much response. People still prefer to gossip about celebrities.
But the comet is going to hit the Earth, and the matter is not based on human will. The comet is approaching the Earth day by day, even to the point of being visible to the naked eye. When people look up, they can see the giant in the sky. Finally, people become panic.
Dr. Mindy and Kate appeal to "look up," while the president and Peter tell everyone "don’t look up". Under such opposition, people start a group carnival. Movies and songs with the theme of looking up or not go viral on the Internet, and viewpoints and camps are arguing with each other, which is a bit like the US election.
In addition to the United States, other countries around the world are also formulating their own comet plans. China, Russia, India and other space powers are all preparing to launch rockets. As Russia is preparing to launch, its main base is blown up by the United States.
The last chance to save humanity is still in the hands of the Americans. The president is passionately giving her pre-launch speech. Then, the rockets start to launch. The rockets that ascended into the sky begin their mission in a devastating manner: a few explode, and some destroy after ascending into space, and finally, the few that remained, also destroyed.
The comet is unscathed. As Dr. Mindy and Kate deduce, the comet heads straight for the Earth.
The ending is obviously not the ending of the movie. At the end of the film, the president and Peter board Noah's Ark and go to a planet with oxygen and plants. But they are killed by unknown creatures on the planet in bonus scenes. Dr. Mindy and Kate, as well as their good friends who have been running for the Comet Project along the way, have dinner at home to welcome the end of their lives.
For American audiences, or those who understand the American political system, the film is a total satire of American politics. The film is a comedy. But it's not the hilarious dialogue and humorous performances that make people laugh, it's American politics itself.
Politicians all care about money, because of the close connection between the electoral system and capital. They exchange dignity for money, and they turn money into the supreme power. They don't care about the people. And they are completely selfish.
The capitalists who collude with politicians are the most indifferent demons under the banner of democracy. They don't care about anyone's life. Furthermore, they indiscriminately solve those who stand in their way of fortune.
In addition to politics and capital, the film also touches on topics such as gender, race, social networking, etc. The film spares no effort to ridicule these high-profile figures. And the actors also exquisitely perform the dark side of human beings. But behind such a hard-working comedy, there must be a deeper sadness. Everyone, including producers and audiences, knows that such absurd political system will not change, because human nature is so dark.
The film is sad from the beginning. The fact that the comet hits the Earth will not change. Humans will disappear, just like dinosaurs. Compared to the entire universe, the time we are living on the Earth is insignificant. And comparing to the entire human race, the life of each of us is more like a moment. Whether to look up or not, we're all going to die. It is either tragic or heroic. To be afraid of it, or not to be afraid of it, is the eternal destiny of mankind.
So, Kate is there. During the 6 months when the death is approaching, she lives a real life. Even if she will fall with the glory of human history, Kate desperately pursues her beliefs. In the days of blooming life, she looks up.
Do you look up today? You are welcomed to leave messages in the comment area.
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