Movie Review: An unmoving camera and de-aging technology make ‘Here’ with Tom Hanks painful to watch
- The film 'Here' by Robert Zemeckis features a non-moving camera and employs de-aging technology to portray Tom Hanks over various eras.
- The story centers around a living room and the lives that unfold within it, showcasing significant events from different time periods.
- Despite its ambitious narrative, the execution is criticized as lacking genuine human connection and depth, leading to an unfulfilling viewing experience.
Robert Zemeckis's film brings together a star-studded cast including Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, focusing on the timeless human experience through the lens of a living room. The narrative spans centuries, depicting various life events such as weddings, births, and deaths, all set against a backdrop of cultural shifts. The film’s structure is ambitious, melting timeframes and allowing the audience to witness the evolution of a single space throughout history. However, the film's non-moving camera technique and heavy reliance on de-aging technology create a dissonance that detracts from its emotional core. Hanks's portrayal, aided by visual effects to replicate his younger self, often feels detached and uncanny, leading to criticism that important human connections are lost in the surreal presentation. Throughout its exploration, the film briefly touches on themes of economic struggles and deferred dreams, particularly in scenes portraying the impact of job loss on family dynamics. Yet these themes are overshadowed by whimsical elements, such as appearances by historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, which some critics argue dilute the film's intended message. Ultimately, 'Here' presents a captivating concept but ends up being a complicated viewing experience, as audiences may walk away feeling disconnected from the very human stories it seeks to tell.