65

65 is a sci-fi action film that had the potential to bring back the horrific adventure of yesteryear with elements of survival, hostile dinosaurs and dangerous landscapes. Unfortunately, despite a few captivating moments, the film fails to fully exploit this premise, leaving a certain disappointment.

The film's plot follows Mills, played by Adam Driver, an experienced pilot, and Koa, played by Ariana Greenblatt, a young girl, who find themselves alone on a prehistoric planet after crashing. Their goal is to survive and find a way home, while avoiding dinosaurs and the dangers inherent in this hostile world. The film begins by establishing the emotional stakes for the main characters, but then loses itself in a repetitive structure. Moments of action are interspersed with quiet moments where the characters attempt to develop a relationship, but this feels rushed and contrived. The actors, especially Adam Driver and Ariana Greenblatt, do their best to give their characters depth, but they are limited by a script that lacks development.

The dinosaur special effects are adequate, but not particularly impressive. Compared to the films in the Jurassic World franchise, they are inferior in terms of realism and detail. What's more, the staging of the action scenes suffers from a lack of clarity and visibility, making it difficult to understand what's happening on screen. Despite these shortcomings, 65 manages to provide a tense dose of escapism for fans of prehistoric creature features. The film's concept is interesting and there are a few memorable moments, but overall it fails to fully exploit the absurdities of its plot.

On the other hand, Adam Driver's performance as Mills is captivating. He convincingly embodies the character's blend of determination, fear and ingenuity. Driver effectively conveys the growing bond between Mills and Koa despite the language barrier, and his commitment to protecting her is palpable. However, the film's overall execution leaves much to be desired. The pacing is clumsy, the world-building ineffective and the dinosaur designs lack interest. The urgency of the characters' journey is undermined by the film's inability to effectively convey the geography and progression of their mission.

Although the creatures are visually impressive, they fail to become memorable characters in their own right. What's more, the film's attempts to develop the emotional bond between Mills and Koa are hampered by clumsy flashbacks and slideshows, detracting from the most engaging moments of Driver and Greenblatt's chemistry.

Despite Adam Driver's excellent performance, 65 fails to deliver a truly captivating and memorable film. The story fails to capitalize on the promising premise of Adam Driver fighting dinosaurs, resulting in a lackluster execution. While the film has its moments, it ultimately disappoints and its potential remains untapped.

65
Written and directed by Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Produced by Sam Raimi, Deborah Liebling, Zainab Azizi, Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Starring Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt
Cinematography : Salvatore Totino
Edited by Jane Tones, Josh Schaeffer
Music by Chris Bacon
Production companies: Columbia Pictures, Bron Creative, TSG Entertainment, Raimi Productions, Beck/Woods
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Release date : March 10, 2023 (United States), March 14, 2023 (France)
Running time : 93 minutes

Seen on March 14, 2023 at Gaumont Disney Village, Room 12 seat A19

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