Submergence (2018)

Too many fans seem to be blown away

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Advice for viewers. Best is to relax into an aesthetic quiet movie, then you might appreciate the beautiful slow intro, soundtrack and landscape scenery. The additional cuts to some spy and prison scenes could have spiced it up, but they were at times nerve-wrecking, because the went back and forth too often without much new insights.The best acting in my eyes came from Siddig El Tahir El Fadil El Siddig Abderahman Mohammed Ahmed Abdel Karim El Mahdi (sorry, I had to put this out there, but I am not joking - this is Alexander Siddig's full name ;-) This is the guy who not only did play a doctor here, but also in the Startrek series Deep Space 9, and he matured to convincingly display a faithful and ethical person who has poise.Vikander's acting was understandably two-faced, because she had to play a materialistic non-charming scientist who turns romance - and this on top of her fragile figure which additionally made it hard for her to really own this role. The reason why she in my opinion will be cast many more times is not only because she played in Tomb Raider and is pretty, but because she has a quite neutral face which allows for nearly any character to throw her way - young enough to be sensual but also has a focus which doesn't corner her in the realm of sensuality. However - somehow I was not fully sucked into her role to make me feel the love - it rather reminded me of some really beautiful women whom for some reason I had no magical connection with.As for the directing: The movie showed that Wim Wenders comes from the 70s area where movies were slow and his age may contribute for him to continue on that pace. This is ok in some of his movies and in this one it was half a blessing and half a curse. The negative side of it being that the story did not really unfold for me fully but went back and forth much too often without a reason for it - and I don't ask for clear endings as you might think, but for at least some contemplative message which I can take away and which will give the slow movie a deeper meaning, just as it was in George Clooneys Syriana (in which Alexander Siddig btw also played).It also dawned upon me that having just completed the (heart-wearming) documentary about pope Francis, the stereotyped display of Muslims as terrorists may come from a Christian and Anti-Islamic perspective. If I was a director I would have not put oil onto the xenophobic flames of of the contemporary fear of- and therewith hate for refugees. Nevertheless - this might be part of the original book and I appreciate that a potential dull story was spiced up with some spy stuff.All in all I enjoyed watching the movie while it lasted, but left the cinema a bit oblivious.

The chemistry is non existent and Vikander has about as much charm as a piece of driftwood. They used to say Keanu Reeves was a wooden actor but I even so I kinda like the guy - she is the female equivalent but I cannot stand her poor acting and zero emotions - how did she get into acting? Must be a student of the Harvey Weinstein school methinks!McAvoy's acting far outshines Vikander who is in my opinion another one of the fluff on a stick actresses who cannot act but get the role for her looks but god knows why as her boyish, stick insect figure is definitely not sexy in the least.Apart from those irritations we have an Utterly tedious story with nothing of interest at all; the love story is a joke as there is zero chemistry between the two actors - casting director should leave the business!

I went into this movie with high hopes. There aren't enough romantic dramas out there and I loved that it was described as a "haunting love story." Well... it was more like a disappointing love story to me. Without giving away any spoilers, the format of this movie intercuts between the past romance and the current separation of the two main characters portrayed by James McAvoy and Alicia Vikander. While I like both of these actors individually, I didn't really feel the chemistry between them. That said, I was still interested in their separate storylines (he is taken prisoner by jihadists and she is doing deep water sea exploration). But... after all that waiting, I didn't think the ending was very well done.

Would have liked it if they made two stories instead of the highly improbable melding into one (It was like putting a right hand glove on the left hand - just didn't fit). Didn't have a focus; dragged; lots of stereotypes (e.g. guy uses well worn lines to pick up attractive female at hotel/resort - ughhh!). Too predictable scenarios & acting for both parties - the guy & the female. It's good that Vikander looks younger than she is, but she looks like an older teen which makes this a creepy pickup romance.