Biosphere Synopsis
This is a difficult one to explain. Biosphere immediately thrusts the viewer into the world of Earth’s 2 last surviving men living in a dome capable of sustaining life. How they got there or why becomes secondary. The men, Mark Duplass and Sterling K. Brown, are responsible for keeping the pond running which in turn allows their vegetables to grow in order to survive. When the last female fish dies…Nature prevails. I have to keep it ambiguous because saying anything further would only confuse you more.
Who Are The Duplass Brothers?
Mark and Jay Duplass co-direct, write and star in a number of films. Jeff Who Lives At Home, Cyrus, The Puffy Chair, Creep, The One That I Love and many more. The brothers got their start with micro-budget films and were big players in the beginnings of the “Mumblecore” genre. Characterized by being a low-budget film with naturalistic or improvised acting performances. Having a more nuanced knowledge of these things will allow for a better viewing experience with Biosphere
Expectations Going In
If you’re not comfortable with uncomfortability, then Biosphere is one you’re gonna want to stay away from. There are boundaries crossed in Biosphere that bring up interesting biological questions. Expect to suspend your disbelief and let the world unfold upon you if you truly want to enjoy the movie.
Biosphere Review
I’ve always been a fan of Mark Duplass, but I feel like Biosphere is one of his weaker entries. I liked the experimentation of the film but many of the ideas and questions brought forth were ones I was very uncomfortable with. Biological Sequential hermaphroditism. Yes you read that correctly. A heady phrase indeed. Put in layman’s terms it’s the process of undergoing a natural change in gender. Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass are fantastic as usual. The dialogue in the film gets a little heavy, in some parts I felt the words would’ve been better off unspoken. The physical body language between the actors told the story better than words could. The themes of friendship and survival are well portrayed. Overall this is a well-made film, the story is a tough pill to swallow.
Final Note
The ending of the movie was predictable yet satisfying. It gives good closure and circles back to an important recurring question throughout. Biosphere is a lot easier to stomach with an open mind. But that’s a hard task.
Rating
6.5/10
Biosphere is available on demand and in very limited screenings
Thanks for reading. Stay tuned to the blog for more Pop Culture coverage including our reviews of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1, No Hard Feelings, Moon Garden, and upcoming reviews of Oppenheimer, Barbie, and Talk to Me.
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