Spaceman is partly deserving of its bad press. For a good amount of its runtime, it can be described as generic, boring and pretentious. It is another entry in the recent and bizarre subgenre of sci-fi that I like to call ‘mopey astronauts.’ Like Gravity, Interstellar, The Cloverfield Paradox and Stowaway before it, Spaceman is about a mopey astronaut. However, its execution of what has become a common and cliched premise is distinct and effective in some areas.
Czech astronaut Jakub Procházka (Adam Sandler) is investigating a mysterious cloud of dust above Jupiter. He is alone in space, the transmissions he gets from his superiors being his only social interaction. That is until a spider-like alien (voiced by Paul Dano) appears in his ship and connects with him telepathically. Jakub names the creature Hanuš and as its cerebral bond with him strengthens, the astronaut relives his memories and is forced to reevaluate the decisions he’s made in his life. Particularly those that concern his pregnant wife, Lenka (Carey Mulligan).
The Characters
In almost all of the mopey astronaut films I’ve seen, the mopey astronaut will be in space because they’re trying to flee some trauma or failing relationship and it’s only until they’re cut off or faced with death that they realise the value of their life and try to get back to it.
In this respect, I found Spaceman to be very refreshing because its mopey astronaut isn’t fleeing from anything. Jakub doesn’t see a problem with working in space and maintaining his relationship with Lenka on Earth. He has a passion for space exploration. He can call Lenka or any of his superiors whenever he likes on his ‘light phone.’ Despite being above Jupiter, Jakub can get plenty of social interaction, as long as someone picks up when he calls.
Jakub becomes worried when Lenka stops picking up. It’s only when he encounters Hanuš that he has to consider the potential reasons why Lenka would cut him off.
No asteroids. No solar winds or power outages, just a man considering the consequences of his decisions.
Jakub’s telepathic therapy sessions with Hanuš are the heart of Spaceman. For anyone who doesn’t have a serious arachnophobia, Hanuš is hard not to like. While he approaches Jakub with the intention of scientific study, Hanuš has a genuine desire to cure Jakub of his loneliness. The telepathic creature speaks to the mopey astronaut with a non-judgemental curiosity, which is expressed beautifully by Paul Dano’s soothing vocal performance.
Jakub’s introspective journey has a brilliant beginning and a brilliant middle but a terrible end. With Hanuš’s help, the astronaut achieves a sense of closure regarding his life choices and relationships. The problem is that he does this so quickly and suddenly it creates a sort of deus ex machina ending, which in a story about relationships can almost never work.
If Spaceman deserves to be panned for anything it’s the ending. It almost ruins the whole film.
The Worldbuilding
Despite its generic premise, and title, Spaceman makes a clear effort to be visually distinct.
The production design takes a lot of inspiration from Soviet sci-fi, Spaceman looks more like the original Solaris than 2001: A Space Odyssey. The interior of Jakub’s ship is covered with handles, wires and switches. It’s industrial aesthetic is nothing like the clean NASA-inspired vessels of Gravity or Stowaway.
The Soviet influence doesn’t stop at Jacub’s ship. On Earth, at the Eurospace Program, the offices and control rooms are straight out of HBO’s Chernobyl. Similar to the ship, the technology Jakub’s superiors use to communicate with him looks like the 70s’ idea of future technology.
Spaceman is undeniably a retrofuturism film and I believe it is a somewhat welcome addition to the sub-genre. If I had to rank it among the other mopey astronaut films, I’d put Spaceman in the number 2 spot with Interstellar at number 1.
It’s not for everyone as its critical response can attest but putting its general premise and rushed climax aside, Spaceman talks about mental health and relationships in a way that is touching and poignant as well as tasteful. I gladly recommend it, especially to those who have been put off bu its reviews. Trust me, there is more to it.
I give Spaceman a dignified 7 out of 10.
Duffhood 