20141005: Drama Review--Parts per Billion

Parts per Billion

1. Fundamentals, reception.
1. American live action feature length film, 2014, NR, 98 minutes, drama.
2. IMDB: 4.2/10.0 from 834 audience ratings.  Estimated budget: 1.3 million USD.
3. Rotten Tomatoes: 'No consensus yet,' 21% liked it from 130 audience ratings.
4. Written and directed by Brian Horiuchi.
5. Starring: Frank Langella as Andy, Gena Rowlands as Esther, Josh Hartnett as Len, Rosario Dawson as Mia, Teresa Palmer as Anna, Penn Badgley as Erik.


2. Setup and Plot
1. The film is compartmentalized into three threads following Andy and Esther, Len and Mia, Anna and Erik, plus some overview footage.  The narration goes back and forth in time to give layers of explanation.


2. So if you (the viewer) find it a bit confusing at first, do not be surprised.


3. The background context of the film is the rapid ending of the human race due to biological weapons unleashed in the Middle East.  The biological agents kill everyone in sight and are spread by wind to Europe, to Africa, to Asia, and finally to the Americas.  At first, the three couples seem to have little awareness or concern about the end of humanity or even their own imminent deaths.


4. Anna and Erik miss each other entirely.  This does not get better as the film progresses.  He's into his music; she is into his washing dishes or their getting the cupboards just right.  Both seem to be dim bulbs without empathic response.


5. News sources indicate that one must wait inside until the density of the biological agents drops below 80 parts per billion.  Len and Mia hear this, and decide to stay cooped up at their abode.  They figure that their impending divorce is now moot since the legal system is probably finished working and they will be dead soon enough.  So they talk about their lives together.


6. Andy and Esther are at a hospital.  Those around them are dead.  They are alive since they both were on oxygen.  They may have to go to a new hospital after the staff is dead and their oxygen supplies are running low.


7. There are some interconnections shown in flashback.  For instance, Andy and Esther are Erik's grandparents, and Mia was Andy's lawyer in some legal actions concerning biological research.  Erik observes Mia and Len during a pubic spat while he is moonlighting as staff at a social event.


8. So, after all the discussion, does anyone survive?


3. Conclusions
1. One line summary: Chatty film about couples not facing the end of the human race.
2. Three stars of five.


4. Scores
1. Cinematography: 6/10 Some bad shaky-cam, but mostly OK.


2. Sound: 6/10 Not much of an issue.  The movie is about discussion, not about music and mood.  The background music is either barely noticeable or slightly irritating.


3. Acting: 6/10 OK, but not great.


4. Screenplay: 5/10 The movie reminds me of very coarsely patched mosaics.  The individual tiles make sense, each with very small content, and, if one stands far enough away, the whole makes a statement as well.  I am not so sure that I can ever back up to make sense of this piece of nihilism.  Perhaps you, the viewer, will have better luck with it.