Supernova - Movie Review

Critics Score - 8 of 10

General Audience Score - 7 of 10

It’s wonderful to see more people from the LGBTQ community represented in film and it's even better to see Hollywood making an effort to give individuals within it opportunities to write, direct, produce and act in more of these films. These are steps in the right direction we're making as a society and they are commendable, but there's so much farther to go, it's difficult to give ourselves any kind of pat on the back. Supernova flirts with the precarious position of having both lead characters represent members of the LGBTQ community while not being members of the group themselves. This is certainly a point of contention for some, I acknowledge this as a fair criticism of it's casting decisions, while this review will strive to critique the film for it's merits in cinematic terms. The emotional weight the film carries is powerful and moving, two equally legitimate and heavyweight actors are putting some excellent work up on the screen for us. As the film points out, life sometimes burns brightest right before it's about to run out, similar to a Supernova.

We're introduced to a sequence of the sky at night, with stars popping out like someone poking pin holes in a black canvas with a bright light behind it. At the end we witness a supernova, a bright flash of light as a star explodes and burns brighter than all the stars around it for a few moments before it disappears completely. We then meet our couple, Sam (Colin Firth) and Tusker (Stanley Tucci) are preparing for a road trip of sorts, with both of these performances being among the best of the year. Almost immediately we're given the sense that something is wrong with Tusker and as the trip continues, the issue of dementia is quickly mentioned and hangs with ominous weight over the remainder of the film. It's clear that Tusker is losing his handle on some of the things he's used to doing although it's tough to tell just by listening to him speak. This couple's desire is to spend as much quality time together as possible as they embark on this last scenic drive through the English countryside. As the miles pass, Sam strives to keep the signs of mental deterioration from getting to him too much and reducing him to a weepy mess. As these two stare down a shift in the dynamics of their partnership, moving from equals in career and relationship to more of a caregiver and patient relationship, the sense of pain and heartbreak cut us open like a knife. Even as we see them enjoy their time reminiscing over their lives together and visiting loved ones, the emotional turmoil that's going on under the surface of these events is palpable. 

As we push further into this journey the two have embarked on, we see these men as real human beings on the verge of a huge loss they both anticipate they will suffer. Sam and Tusker's love for each other is the real motivational force behind the old recreational vehicle as is twists and turns along the gray roads surrounded by green woods and hills of the beautiful landscape. It's the story of those two alone but the threat of memory loss holds so much gravity that it functions almost as a third entity, like a slasher from a horror movie about to jump from the shadows and cut someone down at any moment. Although it's Tusker's illness to fight, they both display many qualities, both good and bad, as they struggle to retain what they have together. For anyone that's had a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer's, dementia or other cognitive disorder that's degenerative, the love, empathy, compassion and care for the sick individual are the overriding feelings the film evokes. But the selfish interests of both Sam and Tusker are on display by the film's end, and with neither completely in the right or wrong, we get to witness this final mental game of chess between the two to determine their future. The hour and a half film will lose some as it moves slowly as the cinematography showcases some wonderful scenery, the score is also very good even if it's more on the subtle side. But it's the chemistry between these two fantastic actors doing such great work that makes this movie an experience not to be missed.

SUMMARY - This movie is a really special one amongst the many romance films in the pantheon of love stories. Not because it's showing us the relationship between two elderly men, but because their love and their passion for life and each other make the world burn bright, even if it's not forever, like a Supernova.