Z for Zachariah

Starring: Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris Pine
Directed by: Craig Zobel
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Science Fiction, Thriller
2015

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: In a post apocalyptic world, a woman (Margot Robbie) survives in one of the few safe places. She soon meets two other survivors (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris Pine) who create waves with her peaceful life.

Review:

Tim: Z for Zachariah is an interesting film- it's certainly a smaller scale, post-apocalyptic film. The cast is comprised of three people and not a whole lot happens. That's not a bad thing. There is a real need for these smaller, more intimate films- even when they deal with something like the end of the world. This is a film about people, about survivors. It's about relationships and human emotions. It might not have enough pieces in place to be exceptional, but this is still a worthwhile movie.

The film takes place after most of the world has died. We don't learn too much about the event, other than the planet is coated in deadly radioactivity. Our characters find a small valley that's safe- shielded from the dangerous outside. It is in a place like this that there is a hope of rebuilding, of surviving. We're introduced to Margot Robbie first- she's from this valley and has stayed there since the disaster. Robbie gives a strong performance- she's certainly restrained and downplays her looks. I wouldn't quite say it is a great performance, but she clearly has real talent as an actress. She is enjoyable in the role and manages to make a connection with the audience. We can identify with her and root for her.

Through the course of the film, two additional people arrive in the valley. We get Chiwetel Ejiofor as a scientist, and Chris Pine as a charismatic blue collar worker. I've always enjoyed Ejiofor and he gives a strong performance here. He is a very talented actor and I like that he chose a small film like this to showcase his talent. Not a lot of people will see it, but it helps hone his ability and furthers his reputation as a real actor. He and Robbie work well together. I believed him as this character. It was great to see some of the more emotional moments he got to deliver. It's a very good performance. Chris Pine was another good addition the cast. He's been in a number of big blockbusters, so I'm glad that he is continuing to seek out these smaller films as well. He plays the charismatic, mysterious character perfectly- he is so likable, but there is an underlying sense of danger in the character. He could be completely genuine, or he could be manipulating everyone. You honestly don't know. The chance to see Robbie, Ejiofor, and Pine interact is the biggest appeal of this film. They are all good actors and it was great fun seeing them together here.

This movie is a slow boil- it is perfectly content to move along at a decent (but never especially fast) pace. It's never quite plodding, but the focus is on the characters, not moving the plot forward. I was okay with this, as it gives us time to get to know the characters and still manages to be entertaining. As the movie progresses, it becomes apparent that it is building towards a big finale. The conclusion of the film is engaging and a bit ambiguous, but it's not quite the explosive end that we might have been expecting.

As I think about Z for Zachariah, it is clear to me that this is a good movie. It features three strong actors, giving them meaty, interesting roles to play. The cinematography is often quite strong. The story is stripped down, but still engages the audience from start to finish. I do wish there was more of an emotional punch or something to make the movie unforgettable. We don't get anything that really makes this film stand out, which is a bit of a drawback. While this movie didn't have a big enough budget to become a spectacle nor enough of an emotional connection to elevate it to the next level, Z for Zachariah is a good movie and it's worth seeing.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



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