Space Station 76 (2014)

Very well executed

That was an excellent one.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Blistering performances.

Set in space, but not very much science-fiction. More of a Collection of stories about the dysfunctional relationships among the crew of the station. Not surprisingly, the status of the station could also best be described by dysfunctional.Although set in space, the technology used is very much based on technology either from the 70s or 70s sci-fi shows. And that is the best part. There are some good jokes in there, but the best part is a mix of nostalgia in recognizing the old gadgets long obsolete, and jokes based upon them.Unfortunately, the story doesn't quite manage to tie it all together. The story led up to a scene with all the major characters where a climatic ending could be set up. However, it just lets go leaving most of the threads of stories lose. I felt a little bit cheated out of the ending. A good ending could have recovered much, now I think the movie average at best. Mildly entertaining but nothing that I will remember long.4/10

I loved this movie! But note that the style of comedy is more observational and surreal, which unfortunately is not everyone's cup of tea. I wish it was because I think this is a great movie.Those that expect a movie with an Austin Powers like take on sci-fi along with blunt and obvious humour should note that it is not intending to be anything like it. The story features depressed characters who feel isolated, unfulfilled and unloved all struggling trapped on a spaceship. The movie has a style and pace that resembles the experience/suffering of the characters floating in this metaphorical void of space.Perhaps like any movie genre, you need to be in the mood for it or prefer the genre. Even though it is much more 'composed' in story telling than your 'average movie', it does not make this movie bad, rather it seems it is quiescence that displeases certain viewers. See this movie when you don't feel like Hollywood raping your senses :)Set design is great. Performances are great; Matt Bomer very natural, Liz's understated performance is great and contrasted with other neurotic characters creates some funny moments. To me it seems this movie skilfully turned out like it meant to, and I therefore feel it's an underrated unique little gem.

Nothing in the plot of this movie has anything to do with science fiction. Yes, it is set on a "space station" but it could as easily have been a 20th century cruise liner or a 19th century Orient Express Train. The plot is all about the interaction between the personalities of the people on-board. Why is it so clearly a stage play?--because it uses the old tried and true plot structure of "drama"--characters reveal themselves to each other and come to make self-discoveries as the play unwinds--that's what the film is all about--these 'revelations'. Why is this supposedly the 1970s?--Well the art-direction--the sets and costumes look something like Kubrick's film 2001--which came out in 1968--and also Star Trek--the iconic 1960's TV show. There are touches like black-and-white TV monitors etc., telephones with cords, and lots of cigarette smoking. Actors--insecure actors puzzling out how to project the script that they're given traditionally use cigarette-smoking as an action to substitute for emoting. Well--there's certainly a LOT of smoking in this FILM. Maybe they're saying that smoking is still OK in this 1970s--but it's probably just a lame ripoff of the tobacco and alcohol consumption in the MAD MEN TV show. There is some "symbolism" in the movie--the huge asteroid, which seems to menace and trivialize the mere dilemmas and conflicts of the human characters. The other symbolism is maybe the sort-of-1970s setting--a guy freaking out over his unaccepted Gay Identity--really? In 2014?--come on!--Will and Grace has been off the air for years. Also the couple who "stay together for the children"--another theme from a previous era. Today's society has moved beyond these dilemmas. Most of these plot concerns are really kind of generic and clichéd. Best part of the film is the ACTING--and this is definitely a film about ACTING--not science fiction or plot or story! Some of the acting is uneven--some characters are better at it than others. Liv Tyler is really good and not self-conscious and labored like some of the others in the cast. She does not chew up the scenery. And it's fun seeing her play a real role and not just a comic-book character as in Lord of the Rings, etc. SO--I was a little let-down by this film, but I'd give it a 7 for effort but only a 5 (at best) overall. Kind of a weird hybrid of a movie.

In this dark comedy that is blacker than the deepest depths of space, a group of denizens reside in a random floating space station (Station 76 to be exact) whose lives and well-being are put up for inspection by the audience as they struggle with everyday ordeals such as loneliness, infidelity, sexism, drug use, self loathing and loneliness (yes, the second mention was intentional).This low budget film does the most with its budget and it actually all looks quite acceptable as it is a spoof/comedic take on cheap, cheesy futuristic 70's science fiction films which allows for poor special effects and less-than believable interior shots of actual human- built ships/stations floating about in space. The station's interior décor is 1970s chic ... as are the characters' costumes and hair styles. The director (Jack Plotnick) has all of this down.Where he suffers is piecing together the story's narrative. His lack of direction is rather obvious as the toxicity of some of the laughs aren't as deadly as they should be. I chuckled throughout most of this movie but this comedy is actually more of a tragedy and while everything is played for laughs the somber, serious nature of each of the characters may persuade some to believe they are instead watching a bizarre drama as these characters are clearly all crying on the inside.When Jessica (Liv Tyler - Empire Records) newly arrives at Station 76 as a new mate, the men and women of the station aren't sure what to make of a woman wanting to "work". The station's captain (Patrick Wilson - Little Children) is unhappy with his new partner but also appears to harbor some resentment towards the one who just left whom Jessica is replacing. Matt Bomer (Magic Mike) plays the station's maintenance man whose wife (Marisa Coughlan - Pumpkin) has grown bored with both marriage and motherhood.Their lives unhappily float about in space ... and that is about it. Some will chuckle at their lives and misfortunes as presented and others simply won't get it; but we are laughing at tragic human internal suffering. It's black comedy ... and parts of it do work.The film clearly won't be for everyone. I enjoyed this for the most part but I know many others won't like it ... so I won't be going out of my way to recommend this to those I know.