You might feel like death after a gruelling shift, but for Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson), this is exactly what he does feel – death, much to the morbid curiosity of those around him. That’s the premise of Bong Joon-ho’s latest incisive science fiction entry Mickey 17, which sees one man relentlessly sent on lethal research expeditions both during and after an interstellar journey. Every time he dies, a new clone with all his memories and personality is created in his place – until, one day, he survives, to find a new clone has already been produced. This sets the stage for an ethical and political showdown that combines bleak capitalist oversight with Bong’s trademark black comedic touches.
Mickey 17 starts and ends on dramatically different notes, lacking both the consistency and bite of the still exemplary Snowpiercer (2013), but Bong aficionados still have plenty to relish here. Economic, political, and environmental concerns all combine to produce a fascinating story that feels tragically timely for the moment. A severely downbeat mood is avoided though, courtesy of Bong’s typical flair for strange humour and quirks. Far from detracting from the serious message, it brings it into sharper focus.
Pattinson is extraordinary, balancing his dual role with an entertaining variety and confidence that proves threatening to Mark Ruffalo’s egomaniacal Kenneth Marshall (half Donald Trump, half evangelical TV preacher). The finale nicely blends the epic with the intimate, ending on a more hopeful note than perhaps the plot would lead you to believe. While narratively it may feel less adventurous than Bong’s masterpieces, it remains an engrossing look at death, capitalism, and bodily autonomy.
Mickey 17 is out now in cinemas.
