Predestination

3.5 - 4.0 stars. This could be the toughest movie I’ve ever tried to review. LOL! And this may be one of the strangest reviews you’ve ever read. Not being familiar with the movie’s source material – Robert Heinlein’s 1950’s (believe it or not) short story, ALL YOU ZOMBIES – I had no idea what I was in for. I think the word that I want for this movie is mind-bending. Moebius on steroids.Do I like it? Weeks later, I don’t know that I can answer a simple yes or no.Do I admire it and the creators? Resounding yes. A lot went into bringing this fiendishly complicated story to the screen in a coherent, understandable form. I have to salute their vision and discipline. The lead actors were absolutely on point as the characters that could otherwise have been cringy or laughable. If the direction and editing hadn’t been spot-on, there were a thousand ways for this to turn into a hot mess. But in this instance, it WAS tight and it DID stay on track and come together.All the breadcrumbs were there. No contradictions; no convenient plot devices rode in out of nowhere – quite a feat with all of this story’s moving parts. Some may want to argue the temporal physics (like the friend I watched it with) but my curiosity was hooked and I was willing to suspend belief just to see where on Earth this would go.The movie opened with a chase/shoot out scene. An agent of a mysterious agency that regulates crimes by temporal travelers managed to prevent a bombing and mass murder but was severely injured in the process. He failed to capture the notorious bomber he had been pursuing but an unknown man helped him return to his own time. Following his recovery, the agent is faced with forced retirement due to the cumulative detrimental side effects of multiple time travel missions.Then the scene shifted to a bar where the agent was working a final undercover assignment as a bartender. A stranger began an account of certain seemingly unrelated events. It made for a bit of an exposition-heavy pace change. But all I will say without spoilers is when the pace picked back up, that individual’s account took center stage.So, as to the question, “Did I like it?” I would say, yes.I’m certainly glad I didn’t miss it. I like the fact that, unlike the vast majority of movies I’ve seen this year, I haven’t forgotten about it already.I admit that I don’t necessarily “buy” all aspects of the plot, but, Dang!, what an intriguing concept! What mind(s) came up with this! And I’m still thinking about it.Recommended. I think this would be enjoyable particularly to viewers:- Who enjoy time travel plots and wouldn’t mind a serious twist on the theme- Who like tales told in non-linear style; (think slightly disorienting at times, like 12 Monkeys or Memento – which I loved)- Who like to work out obscure details for yourself and THINK about the movies you watch, even after they end. LOL! My mind still kinda goes Whaaaaat…? when I think about it.- Who like having their brains bent. I WISH I could say more but, NO SPOILERS!!!Caution! If your usual movie companions are the kind who like to constantly question every word or development be prepared for an ongoing barrage of, “What did he mean by that…?” “What happened to…?” and plan accordingly in advance! (Just kidding. Love ya’, Hon! 😉)These kinds of smaller, smart, quality movies, substituting ideas and brains for big budgets and CGI, are well worth looking for. They’re bringing the unexpected and a breath of fresh air to the movie box office.

First, let me say that I'm giving this a 5-star rating for its thought-provoking premise, not because it's equal to Lawrence of Arabia or Out of Africa or To Kill a Mockingbird. This movie, if you stay with it till the end, will have you questioning everything you think is true about life and your journey through it.Now, this is how I ended up watching Predestination with Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook. Several months ago a friend of mine at work recommended that I watch the film. She felt it might be right up my alley, and that I would understand what was happening. She didn't. I had recommended Cloud Atlas to her, and she hadn't liked that film, either. Now, it was my turn with Predestination. I purchased it from Amazon, and then it sat in my "to-be-watched" stack for a few months. I finally pulled it out and watched the film on Sunday, wondering if I would enjoy it and how I would feel about its storyline afterwards.I have to say this film turned out to be a wonderful surprise, and that it blew me right out of my white cotton bobby socks. Don't ask me if I understood everything that was going on because I didn't, though in a way I think I did. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. I have a distinct fascination with movies about Time Travel (The Time Traveler's Wife, The Lake House, Somewhere in Time, Looper with Joseph Gordon Levitt & Bruce Willis, The Terminator series, and the original version of The Time Machine with Rod Taylor, etc.) and thought there was a good chance I'd like this.I did.Ethan Hawke plays the Barkeeper, who's also a Temporal Agent. He works for a government agency that's led by Noah Taylor's character and travels back in time to change the course of events and to prevent tragic deaths. Hawke's character relentlessly attempts to prevent the Fizzle Bomber from achieving his massive destruction on a grand scale. During one of his visits to a different time period, the Barkeeper meets the Unmarried Woman, who is played by Sarah Snook. Sarah pretty much steals the movie with her unbelievable acting ability and how she portrays two of the main characters in the film.You see, while sitting at the bar, conversing with Ethan, she's a man, but actually started off life as a female.Confused?Sarah's parents supposedly gave her up for adoption, leaving her in a box on the steps of the orphanage. As she (Jane) grew into a young beautiful woman who was astounding in her intellect, she remained a loner, but also a scraper who was more than willing to defend herself against men and women in a fight. One night she bumps into the man who is her soul mate, but mysteriously disappears from her life, leaving Jane abandoned and pregnant. When surgery has to be done to save the baby, the doctors discover that Jane's a hermaphrodite and remove the female sexual organs from her body, turning her into a man for better or worse.Of course, the Unmarried Woman blames her soul mate for her condition and what transpires, but everything is not what it seems.The Barkeeper appears to be the only who knows what's really going on.There is one scene in which Ethan Hawke is talking to Noah Taylor's character and mentions the serpent swallowing its tail. This is symbol from ancient history, representing the duality of existence and eternity. What is later discovered by the viewing audience will leave you breathless and thinking about the film for days. Needless to say, life is a paradox and by changing one thing in the past, everything in the future can be affected.This is the type of film that's difficult to understand and follow, but I guarantee there are huge rewards for those who are able to grasp its meaning. Many will not like the movie, or understand it enough to give the film a chance. Let me just say that both the late Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking believe in time travel and that's it's possible. But, what would the results of time travel be if a person were to go back and change certain things? How would the future be affected by this and what would be totally different about it? I mean if Hitler had been assassinated during the thirties by someone from the future, few of the baby boomers would be here now.I would not exist.Maybe the assassin wouldn't exist, either.Mind blowing, isn't it?In the Behind-the-Scenes, the three major actors discuss why they took their roles in this amazing film. It boils down to the fact that no one had an answer to the questions mentioned above. This allowed each actor to have a certain amount of freedom in how they chose to portray their characters.Of course, it was Sarah Snook who played both a woman and a man, which was challenging to say the least. It was necessary for her to learn the mannerisms of being a man and how to speak and move like one. She really should've been nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actress for her performance. This isn't to take away from Ethan Hawke's performance, or that of Noah Taylor. It's just that Sarah Snook definitely shined in her role and made the viewer believe in her tale of woe.Considering the budget for Predestination was a low one, everyone had to come up with ideas on how to achieve a certain effect or perform in a particular manner that would drive the storyline forward. The cast and crew did a magnificent job in turning Robert Heinlein's short story into a serious thought-provoking film that clearly questions morality, time travel, love, and who we are as human beings, not to mention the journey each of us is on.Filmed and scored to perfection, Predestination is a winner in my book. This film was designed to make the audience think and to experience strong emotions for its main characters. It definitely succeeded in this endeavor. The whole film was balanced by the acting of Sarah Snook. It was her job to make you believe in her character. If that hadn't worked the movie would've been a failure. As it was, she rose to the occasion and proved what a gifted performer she is at this stage of her career.And let's not forget Ethan Hawke. His performances are always impeccable and because of that, the other actors have to rise up to his level and often win Oscars for their excellent roles.If you're a fan of films that deal with time travel and subjects that will trigger your mind into overtime, I recommend this movie for you. The film also shows what can be done on a small budget by studios and that $200,000,000.00 tent-pole movies are not necessary in order to make something that's entertaining and will the engage the audience's mind.

What came first? The chicken or the egg? Or the rooster or the farmer or the farm? A real mind twist this one. Wow. Worth my time.

I'm not a spoiler, this movie has some twists. I really got caught by it and I am glad to own it! Huge fan of Sarah Snook from Succession 😍 great job by everyone, truly a good film!

Another movie that really makes your think long after it is over. Some special effects and light action. Really good story and well acted. I would recommend some google searches on it after you watch to help with the time travel time line and explanations.

This is an incredibly interesting storyline! A combination of science, sensitivity, mystery, intrigue and suspense. Sarah Snook the lead actress is remarkable! Ethan Hawke is always a favourite of mine. Despite him being the "star name" in the movie, I find his performance very humble along side the amazing Sarah Snook. I hope to see more of this actress.An absolute must for any sci-Fi fans, time travel enthusiasts and anybody who likes their brain and minds challenged! Great price too. Delivered on time, no damage, perfectly new. The DVD would make a nice affordable gift to people interested in this genre too.Enjoy y'all!

This is without doubt the worst film I've ever seen. Its to dark, you can't see most of it. The actors are mumbling, so you can't hear what they're saying, and can't follow the plot. Also, if you struggle to the end, the ending and therefore the the final understanding of the entire plot line was so ludicrous, you sit there thinking why have I just wasted two hours of my life watching this chap. Do yourself a favour, and just don't bother.

An intelligent and entertaining psychological sci-fi drama. Not stuffed with SFX, spaceships, slo-mo fight sequences or action adventure. Instead it's a thoughtful exploration of destiny through time travel, with most of the plot revolving around an extended interaction between the two core characters. Felt like a mash-up of Tilda Swinton's Orlando and Chris Nolan's Memento.Ethan Hawke gives a quietly solid performance, in which his dilemma becomes painfully apparent as the plot unfurls. Many of the twists are guessable - or indeed transparent - but even so there were a couple of moments of revelation which we hadn't seen coming. The directors obviously felt it was necessary to give everyone a recap near the end, just to clarify things. So don't worry if you do get confused...Ideal if you enjoyed all those time-paradox episodes of Star Trek, or the ever-evolving multiverse of Fringe.8/10

Do not waste your money to buy the worst Sci-Fi Story I have ever come across in my lifetime, of 75 years, all talk and no action in the first 55 minutes of this supposed story. Just when you thought it was going to change for the better it got worse. I watched the film to the end and I cannot tell you what the plot was all about, if there was plot at all I certainly missed it. You have been warned. Cliff. I tried to give the film NO STARS, but it would not allow me to proceed until I had chosen one.!!!

All the descriptions of this movie explain the meat of the story. But you don't actually get to it for about 55 minutes so anyone knowing the synopsis might be sighing a lot when the film seems to be something totally different. A movie best to watch without knowing the premise. But once it gets to that point its an interesting ride to the end and it's almost certain that if you watch it with someone else you'll be throwing ideas at each other long before the end and for a while after it too. It does get quite complicated but in a good way although I'm not sure that it would ever be worth seeing a second time once you know the outcome because its not easily forgotten. Overall I'm glad I rented but certainly one to make you think and one that rewards sitting through what appears to be an odd opening 50 minutes or so.