Space Station 76

Space Station 76 is a 2014 American science fiction dark comedy film, directed by Jack Plotnick, and co-written by Plotnick, Jennifer Elise Cox, Sam Pancake, Kali Rocha, and Michael Stoyanov.[1]

Space Station 76
Teaser poster
Directed byJack Plotnick
Produced by
Written by
Starring
Music by
  • Marc Fantini
  • Steffan Fantini
CinematographyRobert Brinkmann
Edited bySharon Rutter
Production
company
Rival Pictures
Distributed bySony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (international rights)[1]
Release date
  • March 8, 2014 (2014-03-08) (SXSW)
  • September 19, 2014 (2014-09-19)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

It is the first film directed by Plotnick.[2] He developed the script through improvisation sessions at his home with some of his favorite actors.[2] The film was released in select theaters on September 19, 2014 then through Video-On-Demand beginning September 30, 2014.[3]

Plot

Space Station 76 is a dark comedy film that deconstructs seemingly idyllic relationships, set against the backdrop of Omega 76, a 1970s retro futuristic space station.

Jessica (Tyler) arrives to serve as the station's new co-pilot. While at first all seems normal and the crew friendly, she soon discovers that the people on board are struggling with issues such as infidelity, loneliness, depression, and drug abuse.

She becomes increasingly frustrated by Captain Glenn (Wilson), who harbors a secret of his own, namely his failed relationship with the previous co-pilot, Daniel. She is eventually drawn to Ted (Bomer), a lonely, married crewman, and his 7-year-old daughter, Sunshine (Rogers). Ted yearns to reconnect with his wife, Misty (Coughlan), but she's happier talking over her problems with Doctor Bot and having an affair with Steve (O'Connell). His daughter Sunshine contends with her unhappy, mentally ill mother and her pet gerbil eating its babies, one by one.

Events finally come to a head at a Christmas party, when Misty suggests they play the "Secrets Game". Jessica then exposes Glenn's homosexuality, just before Misty almost exposes Jessica's inability to have children. Just when it seems like everything's falling apart, an asteroid collides with the station, destroying the shuttle and leaving them all stranded.

As the crew slowly return to their lives, Sunshine turns off the gravity, and floats whilst viewing a meteor shower through the window.

Cast
  • Patrick Wilson as Captain Glenn, whose struggle with his homosexuality caused his break up with Daniel, and then his alcoholism.
  • Liv Tyler as Jessica, the new co-pilot and replacement for Daniel, putting her at odds with Glenn, but she develops a close relationship with Sunshine and Ted.
  • Matt Bomer as Ted, the mechanic, unhappily married to Misty, with a robotic right hand and an ambition to leave the ship.
  • Marisa Coughlan as Misty, the ship's nutritionist and a narcissist who is threatened by Jessica's presence on the ship.
  • Kylie Rogers as Sunshine, Ted's and Misty's daughter, who is sensitive and loves animals.
  • Kali Rocha as Donna, Steve's cheerful yet selfish and materialistic wife who often neglects her newborn baby.
  • Jerry O'Connell as Steve, a sex-crazed member of the crew, who is not only sleeping with Donna and Misty, but is also turned on by Jessica.
  • Keir Dullea as Mr. Marlowe, Jessica's father.
  • Victor Togunde as James
  • Sam Pancake as Saul
  • Michael Stoyanov as the voice of Dr. Bot, the on board, robotic psychologist, whose main method of treatment is prescribing Valium and other drugs.
  • Katherine Ann McGregor as Janice
  • Julia E. L. Wood as Susan
  • Ryan Gaul as Chuck
  • Matthew Morrison as Daniel, Glenn's former co-pilot and boyfriend who broke up with him for his being closeted.
  • Anna Sophia Berglund as the Space Angel
  • Melodi Hallenbeck as herself (stand-in for Kali Rocha, uncredited[4])
  • Jack Plotnick (uncredited) as Voice of Space Station 76

Production

The film was a passion project for writer director Jack Plotnick who described making the film as "like climbing your own personal Mount Everest".[5] With the film Plotnick wanted to tell the story of his own upbringing but do "it in a sort of an artistic way by setting it in the future as we had imagined it would be in the 70s".[5] Plotnick chose the setting of a remote space station as he felt it was a good metaphor for the suburbs, while the retro future aesthetic represented the "perfect future we dreamed of but that never came to be".[5]

Liv Tyler came aboard after participating in a Skype call with Plotnick which according to her "was half Skype session with a director and half therapy session for me".[6] Tyler was also intrigued by Plotnick's work as an acting teacher and his personal philosophy regarding the craft.[6]

The interior design of the space station bears an astonishing similarity to Keith Wilson's iconic designs for the interiors of Moonbase Alpha from Gerry Anderson's 1970s' hit series Space 1999, whilst there are many other visual references to classic 1970s films such as Silent Running and Star Wars.

Music

The film's soundtrack includes numerous 1960s and 1970s songs, including four by Todd Rundgren, stepfather of Liv Tyler: "International Feel", "I Saw The Light", "Hello It's Me", and "Utopia Theme".[7]

Release

Space Station 76 premiered on March 8, 2014, at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.[1] before being given a limited release on September 19, 2014. The film was released via VOD and DVD on September 30, 2014.

Marketing

The first trailer was released on July 21, 2014.[8]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 68% based on 25 reviews, with an average rating of 6/10.[9] On Metacritic the film has a score of 49% based on 10 reviews.[10]

Joe Leydon of Variety magazine wrote: "Aiming more for bemused chuckles than for convulsive laughter, Plotnick and his actors deftly evoke a faux Me Decade ambiance throughout Space Station 76."[11]

See also

References
  1. SXSW Sci-Fi Film 'Space Station 76' Acquired by Sony Pictures Worldwide
  2. BWW Interviews: Patrick Wilson and Jack Plotnick Talk Quirkiness of Space Station 76
  3. Space Station 76 on Facebook
  4. "imdb - Melodi Hallenbeck, Filmography". Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  5. Halterman, Jim. "Jack Plotnick Talks "Space Station 76," Gay & Straight Actors and "Disaster!"". Newnownext. Logo. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  6. Radish, Christina. "Liv Tyler Talks SPACE STATION 76, Working With Director Jack Plotnick, Shooting THE LEFTOVERS, and Her Hopes for Season 2". Collider. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  7. "imdb - Music for Space Station 76". Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  8. Labrecque, Jeff (July 21, 2014). "Video: Patrick Wilson and Liv Tyler revisit the 1970s in 'Space Station 76'". ew.com. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  9. "Space Station 76 (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  10. "Space Station 76 (2014): Reviews". Metacritic.
  11. Leydon, Joe (March 17, 2014). "Film Review: 'Space Station 76'". Variety.
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