I.S.S.

Starring: Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., Pilou Asbæk, Masha Mashkova, Costa Ronin

Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Dr. Kira Foster (DeBose) joins her colleagues Gordon (Messina) and Christian (Gallagher Jr.) board the International Space Station to continue her scientific research. Also on board are three Russian Cosmonauts (Mashkova, Asbæk and Ronin) that Gordon and Christian have formed a strong working and social bond with. For them, whatever is happening on Earth doesn't matter, instead embracing the symbolic purpose of the I.S.S.. Shortly after her arrival, a nuclear war breaks out on Earth between America and Russia. As they try to piece together what has happened to their loved ones, Gordon receives a message from NASA to take control of the I.S.S. by whatever means necessary. As the Americans try to figure out what to do, they become driven by paranoia as they can only wonder if their Russian friends received the same message.

It's unfortunate when a movie doesn't live up to the expectations you had built up in your head. Sure, this January release wasn't a movie that had me anywhere near the excitement I am feeling to many other releases this year. But this had the makings of a tight Cold War inspired paranoid thriller that could have sent a sleepy month at the movies out with a bang.

I will give the movie some credit, it wastes little time jumping into the plot. We are given little time to meet the characters on both sides before they are thrust into conflict. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite (Megan Leavey, Blackfish) keeps the pacing tight despite the film's shortcomings. The visuals are quite good considering the budget on the movie is probably lower than one would expect. She also has an incredibly talented cast at her disposal, who are all on board for a claustrophobic, paranoia-infused thriller.

Where the movie ultimately falls flat is in that suspense department. Written by Nick Shafir, the movie constantly goes out of its way to undercut its tension. Instead of building the mystery behind "Do the Russians have the same orders as us?", the movie simply tells you the answer. While the characters certainly act paranoid around the Russians, the audience does not due to the fact that they already know the answer. Conversations between the Americans and Russians should have audiences on the edge of their seats, searching between the words for the truth. Instead, they will be waiting for the supposedly smart Americans to catch up. It all leads to an unnecessary double ending, with one ending being a shockingly violent confrontation between two characters and the other giving us a twist that anyone who is still paying attention will see coming from miles away. It's unfortunate the movie can't develop enough stakes to keep audiences involved in what is happening on the I.S.S. or on earth.

I mentioned the talented cast and that is really all the movie going for it. Ariana DeBose is good in the role but we really don't get to know her character at all outside of a very on the nose exchange where she talks about why she got into science. It's not necessarily a bad scene but it feels out of place and falls into the "show don't tell" department. Chris Messina unfortunately is underused and John Gallagher Jr. doesn't bring as much to the table as he did in 10 Cloverfield Lane. Instead he feels more like a plot mechanism than an actual character. The Russian actors are well cast but they are let down by the script as well. Especially Asbæk, who plays against type, is underutilized since he is known for playing scenery chewing villains. Audiences have been taught to not trust him and the movie never uses that to its advantage as often as it should have.

Like I said, it's hard not to be disappointed by the final product. Often it's own worst enemy, I.S.S. never really achieves liftoff.

Grade: D