It seems like every year promises at least one big outer space movie that tackles questions of what it all means and what makes us human while hurtling through the stars. 2019 had Ad Astra. 2018 had High Life. 2017 had Valerian (we didn’t say they were all good.) 2016 had Passengers. You get the picture. This year’s entry comes from some guy named George Clooney, who directs and stars in The Midnight Sky alongside David Oyelowo, Kyle Chandler and Felicity Jones. It’s an adaptation of Lily Brooks-Dalton’s terrific scifi novel Good Morning, Midnight, about a lonely scientist on a mission to warn a spaceship full of returning astronauts that the earth they’ve left behind is no longer inhabitable.
Sounds like a good time for people who like Clooney’s movies. Or people who like the acting talents of Kyle Chandler, David Oyelowo and Felicity Jones. Or people who like big space movies with a little quiet character drama sprinkled throughout. Or people who just need a way to pass the time with the family on Christmas, when The Midnight Sky drops on Netflix. That’s …pretty much everyone.
