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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
Following starring roles in three Netflix films—Murder Mystery 2, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, and Leo—last year, Adam Sandler returns for his fourth feature film within eleven months. Taking minor inspiration from 2001: A Space Odyssey and other cinematic works, Sandler portrays a lonesome astronaut investigating the Chopra cloud in the depths of space. There, he encounters a speaking spider who digs into his psyche… and perhaps, that’s just it.
Spaceman is directed by executive prodcuer Johan Renck (Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Chernobyl) and written by Colby Day.
In this review, I will be discussing this weekend’s release of Spaceman. As the title of this article suggests, there will be no spoilers.
Netflix’s Spaceman Synopsis
According to Netflix Media Center, here is the synopsis for Spaceman.
Six months into a solitary research mission to the edge of the solar system, an astronaut, Jakub (Adam Sandler), realizes that the marriage he left behind might not be waiting for him when he returns to Earth. Desperate to fix things with his wife, Lenka (Carey Mulligan), he is helped by a mysterious creature from the beginning of time he finds hiding in the bowels of his ship. Hanuš (voiced by Paul Dano) works with Jakub to make sense of what went wrong before it is too late. Directed by Johan Renck and based on the novel Spaceman of Bohemia, the film also stars Kunal Nayyar, Lena Olin, and Isabella Rossellini.
Netflix Media Center
Discussion
This is the Beginning and the ending. Every vibration of all time. It is all contained here. Your past and your future.
Hanuš (voiced by Paul Dano), in Johan Renck and Colby Day’s ‘Spaceman’.
Spaceman is not an entirely grounded story, but neither is it fully centered on outer space. Rather, Renck’s film examines how the metaphysics of space functions between human characters, along with the extraterrestrial spider, Hanuš (voiced by Paul Dano). Through the screenplay, Day does a decent job at bringing Kalfař’s novel to life. However, this invigoration is not without the help of production designer Jan Houllevigue’s spacecraft set piece, cinematographer Jakob Ihre’s camera work, and even music composer Max Richter’s scoring. Unfortunately, there are so few narrative beats present, and the story mainly looks at how Hanuš helps Czech astronaut Jakub Procházka (Adam Sandler) reconnect with his wife on Earth, Lenka (Carey Mulligan).
The Czech location settings are beautiful in their own manner. In fact, they make me feel as if I am watching Renck’s work on HBO’s Chernobyl for the first time again. Viewers see Lenka’s side of the story here, although I do wish there was some larger focus on that part. Richter’s soundtrack has resonating pieces that fit in areas where it is intense and in areas where circumstances call for serenity. If there are any positives about this streaming title, then it is how it presents appealing visual and audible displays to the viewers.
From Novel to Screen
This Netflix adaptation surely takes its time with the story, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Spaceman has incredible moments, such as the protagonist being urged into reciting the slogan to an anti-bacterial sponsor, his attempts at catching particles of the Chopra cloud, or his brief venture out of the Czech spacecraft with the spider. Admittedly, visual effects producer Lauren Ritchie and the rest of her VFX team create some astonishing, yet trippy sights of Jakub looking into his past and possible future. The scene of the main character towards the end might be one of the best sequences I have seen in streaming film thus far, and everything leading up to those concluding moments is worth the watch.
The changes in Hanuš’s design from being the size of a Doberman with red lips to what he is on screen are feasible. I don’t think the film would have worked as well if the production crew adapted the former description. Hanuš does have some admirable qualities about him that are enjoyable. For instance, he is more of a helpful entity, not to mention he has two tentacle-like limbs that function like hands. His scene where Jakub offers him a jar of hazelnut spread is adorable. Moreover, I think the film would fare finer if Day fleshed out certain scenes and character backstories just a little more so as to meet the two-hour runtime.
The Crew Behind Spaceman
Spaceman is based on Spaceman of Bohemia, a novel written by Jaroslav Kalfař. Kalfař serves as an executive producer for the film.
Jakob Ihre serves as the director of photography for the film.
Scott Cummings, Simon Smith, and John Alexrad are the editors.
Luke Dunkley is the additional editor. Craig Ferreira, Alyse Kollerbohm, and Elle Rinaldi are the assistant editors.
Linda Cohen serves as the music supervisor. The soundtrack is composed by Max Richter. Katrina Schiller serves as the music editor.
Nina Gold (Hot Fuzz, Beowulf, Prometheus, The World’s End, The Martian, Annihilation, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Game of Thrones, Chernobyl, The Crown, Last Night in Soho, Andor) and Robert Sterne serve as the casting directors.
Charlotte Chapman serves as the UK casting associate. Maya Kvetny serves as the Czech Republic casting director. Kristyna Policek serves as the casting assistant.
Jan Houllevigue serves as the production designer for the film. Ryan Heck is the art director. Chris J. Shriver is the supervising art director.
Catherine George serves as the costume designer.
Matt Sloan, Bryan Litson, and Craig Calvert are the visual effects supervisors.
Lauren Ritchie, Skye Radies, and Olivier Giraud serve as the VFX producers. Molly Gandour serves as the VFX editor.
Jon Pack and Larry Horricks are the stills photographers.
The Cast Behind Spaceman
Adam Sandler (Funny People, Uncut Gems, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah) portrays Jakub Prochazka, the titular spaceman of the film.
Carey Mulligan (Drive, The Great Gatsby, She Said, Maestro) portrays Lenka, Jakub’s wife.
Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine, Where the Wild Things Are, The Fabelmans, Pantheon, Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith) voices Hanuš, an extraterrestrial spider.
Kunal Nayyar portrays Peter, a man at the Czech Republic command center who keeps tabs on Jakub. Isabella Rossellini (Enemy, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Problemista) portrays Commander Tuma.
Lena Olin (Remember Me, David Weil’s Hunters, Carlson Young’s Upgraded) portrays Zdena, Lenka’s mother. Petr Papánek plays a young Jakub.
Sunny Sandler (You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, Leo) portrays Anna, a young child at a conference call.
Performances and Character Developments
If we are looking at the excitement of seeing Sandler in a more serious role, then Spaceman is the film for fans who are looking for something somewhat new. Sandler mostly exhibits moments of loneliness and despair, and it is not too often that his character is seen freaking out to a high degree. A lot can be said about how much Jakub fails in his relationship with his wife. However, it is interesting how he makes use of time and space to figure out his mistakes.
Dano’s voice work as Hanuš is phenomenal given that the actor’s filmography tends to vary. Sometimes, he is seen being crazily beaten to a pulp by Hugh Jackman or Robert Pattinson. At other times, he plays the soft family figure who probably does not have it all figured out. Rarely do we see the actor play a part in a sex education video, but that’s The Girl Next Door for another time. With Hanuš, there is a soothing voice that does not lash out or scream, but rather provides insight on a person. The actor deserves way more credit to his name, and hopefully, he can find more voice work in the years to come. As for the spider, there is an interesting parallel to Lenka towards the end before he and Jakub enter the doorway to the universe.
Final Thoughts on Spaceman
Renck and Day’s Spaceman has good qualities to it, but while there is narrative conflict—Jakub dealing with loneliness on an inner level—, the plot appears straightforward, even if there is much psychoanalysis to be had in its two main leads. It could do a tad more to tap into its themes of space, fantasy, and romantic existentialism and become a fulfilling story. If anything, this is a movie that leaves the room open for explanation and, further, to possibility.
4/5
Spaceman streams via Netflix starting this weekend!
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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
