“Don´t Look Up”, the most recent film by filmmaker Adam mcKay, has not only become one of the most viewed in the Netflix platform catalog since its premiere, but it has also become a trend of the moment and subject of debate for criticism. In this film we know the story of Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), two low-level astronomers must go on a giant media tour to warn humanity of an approaching comet that will destroy planet Earth. Your biggest challenge will be facing the backlash from the press, social media and politicians. In other words, this production is a critique of the absurdity of modern society and that is why we have compiled six pieces of data to further appreciate all the details of this satire.
The serious side of comedy
This film is directed and written by Adam McKay, an American filmmaker, producer and comedian whose filmography includes such films as “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby ”,“ The Other Guys ”and“ House of my Father ”in addition to other comic productions created for different media. McKay began to venture into more dramatic productions that revolve more around social criticism and political issues with films such as “The Big Short” (2015) and “Vice” (2018).
The crude reality
“Don’t Look Up” is widely accepted as a satire to the lack of acceptance of the climate change as a mortal threat to humanity, except that in the film the climate change it is replaced by a comet 10 km in diameter. In any case, although the impact of a comet of this size is a threat to the Earth, it would not cause the same catastrophic collision that the protagonists of the film fear. Rather, such an impact would lower the temperature, the effect would actually be to lower the temperature due to the blocking of the sun with a dense cloud of dust. This process can lead to the extinction of life on the planet in a period of several months or years.
Where you least expect it
This film is full of small details that somehow enrich what is happening in a scene or that are related to the plot. For example, when Randall (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Kate (Jennifer Lawrence) first visit the White House, the camera briefly focuses on a painting of President William Henry Harrison, famous for having the shortest presidency in the history of the United States (about a month) due to his untimely death. This is perhaps a reference to the limited time before the comet’s possible impact with Earth.
A serious look at our ridiculousness
In addition to being an analogy of the indifference of governments and the media to the climate crisis, this film is full of situations in which the current situation of the United States is satirized, that is, a partisan and divided country. The film also functions as a satire of modern society, from the total dependence on technological devices and the control of social networks to the way in which the media manipulate and share the news.
A clash of opinions
Despite being one of the most successful and popular Netflix productions, “Don´t Look Up” has not been very well received by all the critics and has been the subject of a strong debate, which has charmed McKay himself. Even so, this has not prevented this film from being named one of the ten best films of 2021 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.
Both parties in the sights
During an interview, Mckay was asked if the character of President Janie Orlean (Meryl streep) was a Republican or a Democrat, the director responded by saying, “I don’t think either party has much to be proud of over the past 40 years.” Anyway, when it came time to design the character’s appearance, Streep commented that she was curious that so many Republican women have blonde curls and she wanted a more Republican look. Likewise, the film is full of references and hints directed at Donald Trump and members of his family and government.
Source-www.diariolibre.com