Silent Running
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Movie Reviews of Silent Running
Movie Review: The first sci-fi eco-terrorism flick
Summary: 4 Stars
"Silent Running" depicts a future whereby Earth has become severely polluted and no longer able to sustain plant life. The planet sends into orbit several spaceships housing forests with numerous types of trees, plants, and animals. Tending the forest on one of these ships is Freeman Lowell (Bruce Dern), a highly dedicated astronaut who prays that the ships can one day return and re-green Earth. His three crewmates who run the hip tease Lowell for his optimism; they don't care about the forest and are eager to return home. The crew is also aided by three drones (later nicknames Huey, Louie, and Dewey); they are the cutest bots this side of Wall-E and their scenes with Lowell are fantastic. One day, the crew receives orders to abandon the forests. Lowell is devastated and takes matters into his own hands - becoming the ultimate eco-terrorist.
Despite its cult status as a sci-fi near-classic, I hadn't actually heard of "Silent Running" until I read about its influence on several other sci-fi hits, including "Mystery Science Theater 3000." Fortunately, "Silent Running" more than lives up to its reputation by being a quirky, thought-provoking film. The movie manages to convey important eco-messages that are more timely than ever, but it also is entertaining and avoids being preachy. The script by Michael Cimino (The Deer Hunter) and Deric Washburn (The Border) is highly effective. Although Lowell's actions are extreme at times, the script humanizes him through his love of the forest and his amusing interactions with the drones.
"Silent Running" is the directing debut of Douglass Trumball, who was instrumental in developing the special effects of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and numerous later sci-fi classics (Close Encounters, Blade Runner). Much of the special effects here rely on models; at times, the ship looks like a model, but most of it is still quite believable. The drones also are highly realistic through the use of persons with double amputations. The soundtrack features several Joan Baez songs which are a bit hippy-dippy, but they don't detract too much from the film's overall impact. Some people might find the movie a bit dated and hippie-ish, but it still has many fine qualities and is first-class sci-fi.
Movie Review: Dated but still visionary
Summary: 4 Stars
There are so many dated things about this movie...it's hard to know where to start! Bruce Dern's opening costume...he looks like Jesus / a hippie. The Joan Baez tracks. The oh-so-70s environmental message. The STAR TREK level instrument panels. The hair styles.It's fascinating to see what was for 1971-72 the cutting edge of special effects. The movie was directed by guy who did effects for 2001:A SPACE ODESSEY, so you know they're good. And they actually still hold up fairly well.
The plot of the movie, where Dern is the only crewmember who is interested in keeping the last vestiges of earth's plant life alive, is a bit thin, to say the least. One wonders, if earth is losing all its plants, is sending some of them up into space REALLY the only way they can think to keep some alive?
Anyway, I still love this movie. The passions running underneath the politics are very real. Dern is driven to commit a horrible act, and then is driven mad with guilt. He gives a masterful performance in a role that truly suits his rather unusual talents. He brings a deep, abiding sadness to the role, so that the final shot of him still brings tears to my eyes, more than 30 years after first seeing the movie.
And the robots! Huey, Dewey & Louie are the pre-cursors to R2-D2. They are clunkier than a movie robot should be, yet there is something quite engaging and human about them. They are remarkable expressive and they actually become characters we care about...partially because Dern invests humanity in them...or tries to.
I suppose at the time it was meant to be a cautionary tale about "taking care of the earth," but the message (though still apt) is terribly dated in its presentation. But the humanity of the movie, and the amazing leap forward for special effects, make SILENT RUNNING worth taking a look at...especially if you're, let's say, age 35 or older. Kids, no doubt, will HATE the movie.
By the way, it is rated "G." There is some mild cussing and some brief but brutal violence. I think a "PG" is more correct, to be honest.
Movie Review: Good Movies Do Not Have To Be Expensive
Summary: 4 Stars
Douglas Trumbull was given, along with a few other 'new talents,' a million dollars and no strings to make a movie in the early 1970s. This was an 'experiment' by the studios to see if an indie movie could produce big revenue. Easy Rider (35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) was what got this going. Trumbull had been the special effects supervisor on 2001 - A Space Odyssey [Blu-ray], Candy, and The Andromeda Strain.
Trumbull hired a decommissioned Air Craft Carrier from the Navy, a small group of actors, his father, and some friends and made this mini-classic. It is often called a 'cult' film, but it is much more than that. This was a 'message' movie that still resonates. Bruce Dern was given the opportunity to break out of his 'bad guy' persona here and really excels.
This is not the best SciFi movie ever made, but it is head and shoulders above the average. Interestingly enough despite the critical success of this film, Trumbull was rarely given an opportunity to direct again. He did do 'Brainstorm' in the early 1980s, but is mostly known for interactive 'rides' for which he has received little credit.
Movie Review: This view of the future is not bright
Summary: 4 Stars
Accomplished character actor Bruce Dern is inspired as virtually a one man show in the bleak futuristic drama directed by Kubrick disciple, Douglas Trumbull, "Silent Running".
The film takes place at a time in the future when the Earth has become defoliated and exists as a sterile barren wasteland devoid of greenery. A number of massive space ships orbitng the solar system have been outfitted with huge geodesic domes in which forests complete with plants, vegetables and animals flourish. Dern portrays Freeman Lowell a passionate conservationist and caretaker of these domes.
When orders come from Earth to inexplicably destroy the domes and the precious forests Dern is shattered. After failing to convince his three fellow crew members to ignore the orders, he decides to dispatch them all to protect his special project.
Hurtling through space with only three waddling robotic drones as company, Dern attempts to cope with the solitude while tending to the domes. He receives a communication from Earth that his ship is approaching the rings of Saturn possibly too distant for a recovery. His thought of being marooned does not disturb him but things change when the forests start slowly dying.
"Silent Running" while based on a science fiction premise complete with nice special effects is by no means a sci fi flick. It is a conflict between a man, ardent in his beliefs and an apathetic society.
Movie Review: Blast from the Past
Summary: 4 Stars
I remember seeing "Silent Running" when it first came out, when I was 10 or 11. Seeing it again, I realize almost every scene was etched in my memory. No other movie has combined such outstanding special effects with the melancholy of a solitary character.
Obviously, this was a product of the eco-movement of the 60's and 70's, so it's about how by the year 2001 all the vegetation on Earth is gone, and what's left is exiled to space. I was set to experience it as the extreme product of environmentalist wackos.
But the beauty and the eeriness of it holds up well. Just pretend it's about the following century, with the situation starting in 2101. That's easy to do, with the casual use of artificial gravity, the sophistication of the drones, and the implied terraforming that has made Earth all temperate with no use for forests.
As an aside: No one comes away with Bruce Dern's Freeman as the favorite character. (He's made his mark playing anti-social types.) Everyone's favorite characters are the drones! They are endlessly fascinating. Try not to scream over the fate of poor lil' Drone #3. And get into endless debates about whether Drone #2 was in good enough shape to leave with Drone #1.