Movie, 2021

A dystopia set in contemporary America, in which the scientific discovery of a comet heading for collision course with Earth is snatched as a political, media and hugely divisive event. A bold film for the star-studded cast to hook into, and while there’s a didactic tone, the look of the film, including the intercutting of images in montage, make it feel relevant and not just a throwaway rant. The pitch and pace are great, as is the humour, even if, at times, the parallels with the world being satirised feels distinctly uncomfortable. All in all, a good watch, even if it’s prickly and – like the situation it’s satirising – contains little subtlety or nuance.