Andrew Stanton, renowned for directing Pixar hits such as Finding Nemo, WALL·E, and Finding Dory, ventures into a vast new realm with his latest film, In the Blink of an Eye. This sci-fi drama, featuring intertwined stories across thousands of years, stars Kate McKinnon, Rashida Jones, Daveed Diggs, Jorge Vargas, and Tanaya Beatty. The film’s trailer, recently released by Disney+ and Hulu, sets the tone for an exploration of human nature against a backdrop of futuristic and cosmic themes, making Kate McKinnon In the Blink a focal point of the narrative.
Premiere and Reception at Sundance Film Festival
In the Blink of an Eye made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, where it received mixed reactions. Chris Bumbray from JoBlo attended the screening and expressed disappointment with the film overall. He highlighted the story following McKinnon’s astronaut character as the strongest segment. Set in a future where humanity has unlocked genetic immortality leading to civilization’s collapse, McKinnon portrays a long-duration astronaut on a 300-year mission to colonize a new planet, accompanied only by the ship’s sentient AI.
This part of the movie should have been the entire film, as I’m sure it played a role in getting the script by Colby Day onto The Blacklist. The relationship between Coakley and Roscoe (the AI) has more heart than anything else in the film and poses some interesting questions about humanity’s evolving relationship with technology,
Chris wrote.
Critique and Cinematic Elements Highlighted by Reviewers
While praising aspects of the film, Chris Bumbray noted that the movie’s impact was diluted by the inclusion of two additional storylines he considered extraneous. He pointed out that although the narratives eventually converge satisfactorily, the buildup felt prolonged. The film’s cinematography by DP Ole Bratt Birkeland and Thomas Newman’s musical score received positive remarks despite the overall lukewarm reception.
It’s too bad Stanton’s movie doesn’t work, as it’s clearly well intentioned, and the two other stories—which seem extraneous—do come together with the third in a satisfying way in the climax, but it takes too long to get there. Still, it’s beautifully shot by DP Ole Bratt Birkeland, with a good score by Thomas Newman. Even though I didn’t care for it in the end, I can’t say it’s not worth a free watch when it hits Hulu, as it may resonate more with viewers at home than it did for me here at Sundance.
Anticipation for Streaming Release and Audience Expectations
Fans of Stanton’s earlier films may remain intrigued by In the Blink of an Eye despite mixed festival reviews. The combination of a thoughtful narrative and Kate McKinnon’s standout performance offers viewers engaging reasons to watch when the film launches on Hulu on February 27. Rashida Jones’s role also promises to add further depth to the ensemble cast. Audience reactions once the film becomes widely available will likely shape its ultimate legacy within sci-fi drama.
