“Mute” Movie Review

    I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Duncan Jones’ “Moon” a few years back so when I heard Jones had a new film on Netflix, I knew I had to check it out.  It took me awhile to get around to watching it but I finally did.  “Mute” was an interesting experience from the get go.

    The film follows Leo, a bartender who is left mute after a boating accident as a child.  Leo is dating waitress Naadirah and the pair seem to be doing good together until one afternoon Naadirah disappears without a trace.  Leo sets off to find Naadirah before crossing paths with a man named Cactus Bill who may have more ties with Naadirah than Leo ever imagined.

    “Mute” offers an interesting look at an alternate future which could come to pass.  In many respects, “Mute” feels more like “Blade Runner” or “Total Recall” than Jones’ own “Moon”.  The set pieces feel organic and lived in unlike most other sets from other science fiction movies.  The production design is amazing and showcases the gritty futuristic noir style the movie was aiming for perfectly.

    The film features some great performances which helps elevate the movie above the usual Netflix fair.  Alexander Skarsgård plays the main character of Leo and does a good job conveying his emotions without being able to say any dialogue.  The breakout performance of the movie is that of Paul Rudd as Cactus Bill.  Rudd is able to use his natural charm and humor in his favor as you begin to realize there is more to his character than it appears.  Paul Rudd plays against type and nails it.  Justin Theroux is almost unrecognizable as Duck and plays the character in an unnerving and repulsive manner.

    So I guess the question is, with all this praise, how could “Mute” be anything but a masterpiece?  Well, I guess it largely depends on what kind of science fiction you prefer.  The film feels like something straight out of the mind of Philip K. Dick.  The story takes place in a bleak future with morally questionable characters like in most of Dick’s works.  I personally prefer a more hopeful outlook on the future like in “Star Trek”.  That doesn’t mean I hate films like “Mute”, it is just films like this are a little depressing.

    Director Duncan Jones masterfully places you into the world of “Mute” with all of it’s world building.  The combination of English and German languages as well as sign language creates a world that isn’t unlike the one we live in now.  The connective tissues to his previous film “Moon” including a cameo from Sam Rockwell early on helps establish the world these characters inhabit quickly.

    The biggest issue with “Mute” is that it is too long.  Not only is the runtime too long, but the pacing of the film makes it feel even longer.  With so much going on, the movie still feels boring at times as a result which is a shame.  Some sharper editing would have greatly helped this film.

    “Mute” is an interesting film with lofty ideas and a sharp style that gets bogged down by it’s runtime.  The long runtime ends up making the film seem pretentious at times which is a shame.  Still, it’s a cut above most other Netflix films.

Grade: C+