Directed by:  Brian De Palma
Written by:  Jim Thomas, John Thomas, Graham Yost
Starring:  Don Cheadle, Tim Robbins, Gary Sinese, Jerry O’Connell, Connie Nielson
 

March 10, 2000

         The trailer for Mission to Mars made the connection to 2001: A Space Odyssey obvious.  From the rotating room that Brian De Palma (director) conveniently borrowed from Kubrick, to the instrumental music, Mission to Mars indeed set out to be another space odyssey. 
         What De Palma set out to do, and what he achieved are two entirely differently things. Mission to Mars fails on so many different levels, it’s not even funny.  Well, actually, I couldn’t help laughing at the terrible dialogue, and corny, cliché special effects, which reminded me of last year’s The Mummy. 
         The script gives these characters/astronauts a family background, but nothing about why they’re astronauts.  Part of the ending is right from a little known film called Close Encounters of the Third Kind.  But in that movie, we saw why the main character made the choice that he did.  It’s not surprising that the screenplay is so bad.  Brothers Jim and John Thomas wrote the story for last year’s stinker Wild Wild West.
         It’s sad that talent like Don Cheadle, Gary Sinese, and Tim Robbins signed on to this project.  The acting in the film is the only thing that makes it remotely watchable.  But again, the lines they blab are so awful, I found myself amused at their idiocy. 
         De Palma’s talent as a director is wasted here.  He’s been known to do over the top action, Scarface, and drama, The Untouchables.  Mission to Mars is just an over the top nonsense sci-fi mess. 

Alternative Recommendations:  2001: A Space Odyssey, The Abyss, Alien, Carlito’s Way (d: De Palma)

-Reviewed in Theater-

Nominated for
5 Fidelio Film Awards

Winner of
3 Fidelio Film Awards