A One Mann’s Movies review of “Finch” (2021).
With my Apple TV free offer about to expire, I delved into “Finch”, which I’ve been meaning to watch for a long time. And very glad I did. Tom Hanks is on top form.
Bob the Movie Man Rating(s):
Plot Summary:
In the near future, Finch (Tom Hanks) is a survivor of an apocalyptic solar event living in St Louis. He scavanges for food to keep himself and his dog, Goodyear, alive. He’s also extended his robot family from his limited-function droid, Dewey. He’s used his skills to create an AI-infused android, which he is in the process of training. But with weather events threatening to engulf St Louis, the unlikely family set out on an epic road trip.
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: Tom Hanks, Caleb Landry Jones.
Directed by: Miguel Sapochnik.
Written by: Craig Luck & Ivor Powell.
Twitter Handle: #Finch.
Finch Review:
Positives:
- Clearly a film made during lockdown, with a very limited cast. So the movie depends 100% on the star-quality of the great Tom Hanks. And he doesn’t disappoint. Channelling the same sort of reflective performance that he gave in “Castaway”, Hanks is just superb, having to deliver a huge range of emotions from joy, fear, anger and despair.
- The production design and special effects are really top notch here. The little details dropped into shot for a mere fraction of a second really add up to the movie establishing a great sense of time and place. I particularly liked the robot checkout staff at the start, nicely setting your expectation that this was the future, but not too far in the future.
- Amongst all the angst, there are also nice moments of humour, particularly as Finch’s robot friend learns to interact with his brand new world.
- The music, by Gustavo Santaolalla, is also great
Negatives:
- The film has such a minimal cast that it was clearly made in the early stages of lockdown. And so the whole movie rests on the shoulders of its star. And Hanks, of course, pulls off a fantastic job channeling the same sort of reflective performance as he had to do for “Castaway”. Here he has to deliver a broad range of emotions including joy, anger, fear, doubt and despair. And he delivers in spades.
- The production design and the special effects are all top notch. There’s a level of detail provided, sometimes only on the screen for a split second, that gives the movie a really great sense of time and place. I particularly liked the robot checkout staff in the store at the start of the movie, nicely setting your expectation that this is the future…. but not too far in the future.
- The story is delightful (and will greatly appeal to animal lovers). Although the film is far from boasting a “Hollywood ending”, it still managed to feel uplifting and heartwarming. A neat trick.
- I thought the music, by Gustavo Santaolalla, was great.
Negative:
- The movie requires a degree of suspension of disbelief. For example, St Louis is semi-submerged by sand and yet roads out of the city are navigable via an RV! And it’s also unclear exactly how the gas-guzzler is fuelled.
Summary Thoughts on “Finch”:
I thoroughly enjoyed this one, being FAR better than I expected. Hanks delivers a fine performance and the story – a nice cross between “Wall-E”, “Castaway” and “The Incredible Journey” – never lost my interest. Movie-lovers will also appreciate some of the dropped-in movie references, including “Dark Star” and “Rain Man”. Recommended.
Trailer for “Finch”
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0bYWnP3jH4 .
