Outland (1981)
Genre: Crime / Scifi
Duration: 109 minuten
Country:
United Kingdom
Directed by: Peter Hyams
Stars: Sean Connery, Peter Boyle and Frances Sternhagen
IMDb score:
6,6 (36.220)
Releasedate: 22 May 1981
Outland plot
"On Jupiter's moon something deadly is happening."
On Io, Jupiter's third moon, Con-Amalgate space base 27 is breaking all records in titanium production. However, the base is also shattering records for suicides and psychotic attacks. William T. O'Niel heads the Federal Security Service and starts an investigation with the help of Doctor Marian Lazarus. They discover a strange substance in the bodies of the victims. But during the investigation, he encounters a lot of enmity. Then he hears that two hitmen are on the way, who have been called in by the management.
Actors and actresses
Marshal William T. O'Niel
Mark Sheppard
Dr. Lazarus
Sgt. Montone
Carol O'Niel
Sgt. Ballard
Sagan
Tarlow
Paul O'Niel
Lowell
Reviews & comments
Insignificance
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- 3220 messages
- 5589 votes
Crime story in futuristic circumstances of the time. It doesn't always look that nice outside, but the interiors are still okay. In any case, these kinds of constructions often appeal to me more than many of the ultra slick worlds that roll out of the computer these days.
In the end it doesn't do much more than serve as a setting for a police plot. A pretty simple one too. If it pulls the mood card, there's nothing wrong with that, but Hyams doesn't do that enough. All in all, most of it revolves around progress, to isolate O'Niel at the mining colony.
Dramaturgically, that doesn't quite work. The film comes across as a bit distant and when his family comes by again, it doesn't exactly catch on. You are also staring at monitors a little too often and when things go wild, you suddenly get that Star Wars-like circus music to your ears.
All around that wild chase. In the second action segment, the climax, a studio feeling sometimes arises, but there are also some nice moments here and there. Not a bad film, but despite Connery it just lacks that little bit of appeal to really score.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Film Pegasus (moderator films)
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- 31491 messages
- 5627 votes
Sean Connery in a western, the idea is certainly not bad. In 1968 there was already a western with Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot: Shalako. Haven't seen it myself yet and I think it's kind of forgotten. Peter Hyams wanted to make a western in the early 80s, but the genre had died a quiet death at that time. Still, as far as Hollywood is concerned, other genres made their appearance at that time and western had had its day. But if you put the story of the western (in this case to High Noon) in space, it just might work. Alien and Star Wars were hot. And a year before Blade Runner, Hyams took his chance with Outland. He was lucky enough to work with Sean Connery.
Connery is an actor who had experience in action roles like James Bond or drama roles like The man who would be king or The first great train robbery. Drama roles, yet as a charismatic figure with character. I'm a big fan of Connery myself but had some reservations about him in space. The result is a Sean Connery as we are used to from him, but still somewhat on autopilot.
The film comes across as a bit dated and mainly suffers from typical elements for the genre that might have been worthwhile in 1981, but now completely slow the film down. Nothing wrong with other genres, but not really conducive here. I'm thinking of using the computer and fighting astronauts.
All in all nice to see once, but lacks any pace to really convince. And clearly a title in Connery's palmares that is not at the top of the list.
Translated from Dutch · View original
RuudC
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- 4636 messages
- 2529 votes
A western turned into a sci-fi action movie. In principle, no objection, but then you really need a better story than this. Now I'm no western connoisseur, but the story with the sheriff and a big bad company is really the most clichéd thing you can imagine. Outland's script is therefore one of the many typical ultra-cheap (and very bad) (sci-fi) action films we've seen in the past thirty years. Outland may have been reasonably successful, but this is really a case of faded glory.
What keeps Outland going are the fantastic sets. This is very good cheating on Alien. The space base looks great. The interiors are good and there is a wonderfully dark atmosphere. The darkness of Outland beautifully symbolizes Earth's far distance. The film really takes place in a far, dark corner of the solar system. In that respect Outland really scores optimally. An actor like Sean Connery is also a win factor. The best man is now well into his eighties and that is why I grant him his retirement, but I still miss him.
But yes, where the film scores a big unsatisfactory, is the incredibly bland plot. The funny thing is that the makers still touch on a few interesting topics, but then do nothing with them. It is not for nothing that this film has been pretty forgotten in the meantime.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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