Young filmmakers with a shoestring budget in search of the primer on how to make a small independent film look visually stunning would be wise to take a look at "Ascension," a sci- fi piece by John Krawlzik. Starkly lit, austere, concise and utterly cool looking, the sets and cinematography for the film provide exactly the right touch for the plot's deep space setting. It is obvious that much thought and preparation went into the "look" of this film as Krawlzik, who shot the film with Steve Wylam, finds a perfect partner in Carol Clouse, whom he hired as the Production Designer. Clouse's name pops up three or four times in the end credits and we little doubt that this person has almost as much to do with the good things about the film as the writer/director did.

Krawlzik is wise as well to write a deep space story, where spartan sets made on a low budget can look like the most realistic of setting. He also, wisely, writes the piece for just three characters. It's a perfect example of a new filmmaker being ambitious while still recognizing the limits he will have when it comes to set, budget and time constraints. With only three characters, the film can seem tight, claustrophobic and compelling while still remaining realistic and simple to execute and lens.

But the story here almost defeats what Krawlzik has been so brilliant at setting up. This film has the sad distinction of coming on the heels of Steven Soderbergh's remake of "Solaris" starring George Clooney. The set-up and stories seem almost identical for quite a while. Plus Krawlzik is so focused on being "subtle" that his script seems nearly enigmatic. I'm still not sure if I completely understand what the hell the third act of the film is really all about. The DVD extras here provide several deleted scenes and there is more information in these clips then in the entire movie about what is going on in the plot. This coupled with the casting of three rather lackluster actors (who are too withdrawn to make anything here seem truly compelling) make "Ascension" more of a curiosity than a must-see. Even if what you do see actually looks pretty cool.

Notes:

The film was shown publicly as early as 2000. The DVD version, which is what I viewed in October of 2005, was released in August of that same year by Film Threat.

Report Card

Script: D

Acting: D

Cinematography\Lighting: A+

Special Effects\Make Up: A+

Music: A

Final Grade: C+