Meshing a serious dramatic story with a sci-fi flare, Another Earth introduces up to a unique genre from plot points alone.
Brit Marling plays Rhoda Williams, a young, ambitious college student who, on the night that a duplicate planet is discovered within Earth's solar system, crosses paths with an accomplished composer in a tragic accident that leaves the other two parties dead. The film follows Rhoda as she is released from prison, finds a job, and works up the nerve to stand face to face with the man whose life she has destroyed.
Focused heavily on its central story, the film's idea of a duplicate Earth serves as a backdrop until the final minutes. While its involvement within the story proves to be extreme, I spent much of the 90 minutes feature wondering why 'Earth 2' was even part of the film.
That being said, Another Earth thrives on the chemistry between its two leads, and both Brit Marling and William Maopther deliver beautifully. The film does show its 'indie' budget at times, and director Mike Cahill opts for a moving camera a bit more than I feel was warranted; however, by the end, I was pleased with the outcome. It isn't anything extraordinary, but for the sake of indie filmmaking, it sufficed.
