Reel Critics: ‘Jupiter’ doesn’t ascend much

Chop up several screenplays from “Star Wars” and “Star Trek.” Add a large helping of plot features from “The Matrix” and “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Throw in some human exploitation from “Wall Street” and “Soylent Green.” Then glaze over everything with a thick layer of high-powered special effects that rival “Avatar.”

After all that mixing and mashing, you end up with the dubious space opera “Jupiter Ascending.” It’s a magnificent science fiction mess of a movie. It dazzles the eye and confounds the brain until its familiar Shakespearean melodrama is revealed. Eddie Redmayne hams it up as the evil king of an alien planet.

Mila Kunis is less than stellar as the Cinderella princess of the tale. She works cleaning grimy houses in Chicago until she is whisked across the galaxy to her destiny as the troubled queen of another planet. Channing Tatum plays her handsome bodyguard with pointy ears on their many space adventures.

There’s some humor amid the relentless overwhelming imagery on the screen. But it’s all too loud, too long and too silly. As the timeworn story of royal betrayal plays out, the spectacular CGI effects cannot save the day.

—John Depko

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Weighing the Oscar contenders

“Leviathan,” a Russian entry for Best Foreign Language Film, is epic from the moody photography to the tragic lives (and guzzling of vodka) of its main characters.

Kolya is in dispute with town officials who covet the site of his modest seaside home/business that’s been in the family for generations. Longtime friend and lawyer Dimitri arrives from Moscow with some tricks up his sleeve to use against the booze-soaked mayor. To add to his troubles, Kolya’s headstrong son has no regard for his stepmother, the beautiful but forlorn Lilya.

“Leviathan” is a character-driven story of corruption, adultery, betrayal and tragedy with some wicked humor thrown in. Vodka optional.

“Timbuktu,” from Mauritania, is a tale of people’s struggles after their village has been taken over by jihadists. The extremism of new laws, such as women wearing gloves while selling fish, no music and no soccer, all challenge the dignity and traditions of a peaceful community.

There are stunning images, such as a group of young men playing soccer with an imaginary ball, or a woman being flogged for singing whose painful cries turn into song.

Both films are beautifully acted and reflect how much injustice, hypocrisy and hardship there is in the modern world and the need for tolerance and compassion — starting with our own country.

Sadly, only three of the five foreign film nominees have made it to the OC to date (the third is Poland’s “Ida”), but so far, “Leviathan” is the most engrossing and gets my vote.

As far as the Best Picture Oscar: I still wish “Gone Girl” had made the list — it’s a psychological thriller that gets under your skin. “Boyhood” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel” each had a great hook but nothing that sticks with you. “Selma,” “The Imitation Game” and “The Theory of Everything” are all superbly done and could easily split Academy votes.

It’s a very tough year with so many good films. But for originality and sheer chutzpah, my picks would be either “Whiplash” or “Birdman.” May the best film truly win.

—Susanne Perez

JOHN DEPKO is a retired senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office. He lives in Costa Mesa and works as a licensed private investigator. SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a company in Irvine.