I.S.S. (2024)

 

            I.S.S.  stands for International Space Station.  I have already made it clear that I consider sci-fi movies that involve war to be war movies.  This includes movies like “Aliens” and “Edge of Tomorrow”.  However, I do not put them on my 100 Best War Movies list because they are clearly in another genre.  “I.S.S.” is directed by Gariela Cowperthwaite (“Megan Leavey”).  It had only a $14 million budget.  It got a good bang for its buck and should make a profit, but it will not be a big one.

            Within the first minute, we are launched into space.  Two American astronauts are headed to the I.S.S., which is orbiting Earth.   The plot hearkens back to the Cold War era when despite tense relations between the Soviet Union and USA, the two powers did cooperate in space.  The film does not specify what year it is.  The technology does not indicate that it is far in the future.  The two new crew members are an African-American Dr. Kira Foster (Ariana DeBose) and a white astronaut named Christian (John Gallagher, Jr.).  They are greeted warmly by Gordon (Chris Messina) who is the leader of the American trio.  The three cosmonauts are Nikolai (Costa Ronin), Veronika (Maria Mashkova), and Alexey (Pilou Asbaek).  The plot calls for the trope of eating together, drinking, and singing to establish that at this point the pair of trios are friendly.  There are a few hints that things are not so friendly back on Earth.  It will come as no surprise that war breaks out between the US and the USSR.  The evidence for this are the nuclear explosions they can see dotting the planet.  The only communication they get is both sides are sent a secret message that orders them to take possession of the station “by any means necessary”.  The screenwriter throws in a ticking clock to build the suspense.

            “I.S.S.” has an intriguing premise that is realistically possible.  The space station set is authentic looking.  It is lived in and it does not look like any part came from the imagination of a sci-fi author.  The movie is not full of special effects.  There is a space walk, but although it looks real, there is nothing special about it.  What is impressive is the weightlessness.  I am not sure how they were able to accomplish this, but it does look real.  The crew float in the space station.  The movie is more focused on the interactions of the crew.  The cast is a bunch of little knowns.  They are competent.  The characters are not developed much, but the movie is only 1:35 long so there isn’t much time for that.  It’s the premise that is explored.  The most we get is that each of the crew are distinct individuals.  And one of them is not the villain he is cut out to be. 

            “I.S.S.” is an entertaining trifle.  Most people will go in to the theater knowing the premise, so it is a matter of seeing how it plays out.  You also know it will be a “who will survive?” scenario.  That certainly falls in the war movie genre.  While it has some implausible developments, nothing happens that is out of the realm of possibility.  The strong point of the movie and the factor that keeps it from being a typical B-movie sci-fi film is its unpredictability.  There are several plot twists that are legitimately surprising.  And the ending is satisfying. 

            It is ironic that the night before I went to see “I.S.S.”, I watched an episode of “For All Mankind”.  In it the Soviets attack the American station on the Moon.  The show is also set in the Cold War and gotten good reviews.  The movie covers a similar situation better.  It’s not a great or memorable movie, but if you are a sci-fi fan or a war movie buff, it is worth the watch.

GRADE  =  B-