Supernova

Peter McGinn

February 19, 2021

8.0

This is one of those quiet movies that tells a simple core of a story mostly through dialogue and facial expressions, the kind of movie that drives some viewers crazy, running for the exits complaining that nothing happens. I saw criticism somewhere because two straight actors were cast for the roles of the gay lead characters, the standard issue of Weren’t there any gay actors they could find? I am not offended by this bit of casting, but I am not gay either. Surely many gay actors have played straight roles, right? Though let’s face it, that was born out of a long history of actors not being able to reveal their sexuality or risk damaging their careers. But it must be considered a good sign that now actors do not fear poor press by playing the roles of gay men. Anyway, it is a good movie, well written and performed skillfully by a solid ensemble cast. It is not your typical road trip movie because mostly the journal is internal, so we don’t see much in the way of sweeping scenery. I occasionally felt the lack of details in scene transitions, but it was hardly fatal to the story. Such as the house they came to stay at — I wasn’t sure how it came about, but then again, it was not critical to the plot that we know. I can’t say I would go out of my way to watch Supernova again (so many movies and programs, so little time), but neither would I change the channel or leave the room if it comes on.