Predestination – Toronto After Dark 2014

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predestinationFrom The Spierig Brothers (Daybreakers) comes the brain-twisting time travel thriller .  There exists a government agency, headed by Mr. Robertson (), whose agents travel through time to prevent crimes before they happen, while keeping interference with the overall timeline to a minimum.  One of these agents, known only as The Bartender (), has been assigned to stop a terrorist known as the Fizzle Bomber, whose attack on March 1975 levels 10 blocks of New York City, killing 11,000 people.  One day, The Bartender meets The Unmarried Mother (), whose unbelievable life story might hold the key to revealing the identity of the bomber. It is actually stated within the plot of Predestination, based on the story “All You Zombies” by Robert A. Heinlein, that time travel can be mind boggling.  This is an apt description of the plot of Predestination, which features a multi-layered and repetitive narrative, which might need a few viewings to completely understand.  It’s hard to say anything about the film without revealing too much, though it can be said that interlocking destinies plays a very big role in the narrative. Of the cast members in the film, relatively unknown Australian actress Sarah Snook shines the most as the unisexual character The Unmarried Mother, with Snook having the challenge of playing the character as both a woman and a man at different points of his/her life.  The film also gives Ethan Hawke a chance to shine with a meaty sci-fi role, with The Bartender’s history (or lack of) being the biggest key to the film. As for Noah Taylor, he’s just doing what he does best.  When it is all said and done, Predestination is an incredibly well done brain-twister, which will keep you thinking about the plot long afterwards. 9 | REALLY LIKED IT

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Sean Patrick Kelly

Sean Patrick Kelly is a Toronto-based freelance film critic and blogger with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies from York University. Since founding his site in 2004, Sean has shared his passion for cinema through insightful reviews and commentary. His work has also been featured in prominent outlets, including Toronto Film Scene, HuffPost Canada, Screen Anarchy, ScreenRant, and Rue Morgue Magazine.