Sky (2015)

Number Rolled: 64

Movie Name/Year: Sky (2015)

Tagline: None

Genre: Drama

Length: 102 minutes

Rating: NR

Production Companies: Le Bureau, Pandora Filmproduktion, Vamonos Productions, Orange Cinema Series, Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Haut et Court, Alamode Film

Producer: Jean-Christophe Colson, Gabrielle Dumon, Bertrand Faivre, Christoph Friedel, Vincent Gadelle, Diane Kruger, Grégoire Lassalle, Claudia Steffen, Addison Wright

Director: Fabienne Berthaud

Writer: Fabienne Berthaud, Pascal Arnold

Actors: Diane Kruger, Norman Reedus, Gilles Lellouche, Q’orianka Kilcher, Lena Dunham, Laurene Landon, Trevor Peterson, Joshua Jackson, Lou Diamond Philips, Arnita Swanson, John Robinson, Michelle Lombardo, Sasha Perl-Raver, Vanessa Villalovos, Daniel Polo, Andrew Bryniarski, Sal Velez Jr., Raf Mauro, Miles Hayden

Stunts: Webster Whinery

Blurb from Netflix: On vacation in the desert, Romy leaves her abusive husband and winds up in Las Vegas, where she falls for a rugged loner and carves out a new life.

Selina’s Point of View:

For a drama with only the one genre listed, this film didn’t feel like it had only the one genre. There were definite romantic tones and a few moments that I could have sworn I was watching a thriller.

Cat was definitely more into seeing this film than I was. Aside from the awesome cast, I really didn’t have high expectations. It was a drama – after all. A drama that looked like it might have some western flavor to it. I cannot think of two genres I hate more than those.

I think the only western that comes to mind when talking about films I like is Blazing Saddles (1974). Most westerns do not follow those footprints.

All the dramas I tend to like are multi-genre.

This film, however, kind of beat the odds for me. I expected to shrug it off and go back to writing my Top 20 for this month without so much as a second thought, but I wound up really enjoying it.

Sky had some moments that I found unbelievable. The character interactions were a little on the stiff side and I couldn’t see how the story moved from one thing to the next. It just didn’t seem to make sense. However, that was – for the most part – just in the first fifteen minutes.

Once the film got into the heart of the story, I was engulfed.

There was only one cast member I hated – and I always hate her so that offers no surprise. Everyone else was on point and I loved them.

In the end, the good stuff outweighed the bad for this film. I’d watch it again.

Cat’s Point of View:

I’ve wanted to watch this movie for a while now. I like to follow the work of Norman Reedus (Pandorum, Air, Triple 9). I know it’s totally a fangirl reason to watch a movie, but color me curious about the roles he takes outside of what he’s known the best for – The Walking Dead (2010-) and The Boondock Saints (1999).

Of course, this particular character, Diego, isn’t far flung from his current long-running role. Reedus has the brooding smolder down to an art, really. I wasn’t disappointed with his performance, even if it felt similar to other parts he’s played. It was genuine to the situation his character was in.

The story didn’t exactly go where I thought it would. It also took its almost painfully slow time in getting there. The chuckle I got for the brief appearances of Lou Diamond Phillips (SGU Stargate Universe, The 33, Longmire) and Joshua Jackson's (Shutter, Inescapable, Fringe) characters didn’t offset that, unfortunately.

Even though everything just felt too slow, I still appreciated Diane Kruger (Inglorious Basterds, The Bridge, The Infiltrator) in the role of Romy. As an aside, I feel I need to give the makeup department some real kudos here. It might seem like such a small thing – but there was a scene where Kruger’s makeup added an almost magical quality to what was going on.

My inner child is now giggling hysterically that I said that, given the scene context, but I digress…

While I might have been dragging my feet in semi-boredom as Romy made her journey through the story, I do have to say that I was hooked into it all the same. I was invested enough that there were even some tears – more than once.

I liked the complications of the characters, and the strength Romy finds in herself to do what she feels she needs to in order to change her life for the better.

All said, this is a drama that runs deep. There’s not much to break from that intensity, either. The movie might not be for someone who avoids the pure drama genre. There really wasn’t enough comedy or even romance to warrant a dual label.

I’m not sure that this film would come to mind if I were asked for random recommendations, but I liked the movie well enough – albeit, a little begrudgingly. I can’t say that I’d watch it again, though. That stems mostly from the desire to remember the movie fondly rather than put myself through the wringer again.

Languages

Speech Available: English

Subtitles Available: English

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 60%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 50%

Metascore – 55/100

Metacritic User Score – None

IMDB Score – 5.9/10

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 3.5/5

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5

Trust-the-Dice’s Parental Advisory Rating: R

Movie Trailer: