Solaris
Soderbergh's remake of Tarkovsky's philosophical sci-fi epic about memory and grief
The brief
Soderbergh strips Tarkovsky's philosophical epic down to its emotional core, creating something that feels more like an intimate chamber piece than cosmic sci-fi. Clooney delivers his most vulnerable performance as a man confronting impossible grief, while the station's claustrophobic atmosphere makes every conversation feel loaded with dread. The pacing is deliberately hypnotic and meditative, building tension through silence and Clooney's increasingly fractured mental state rather than traditional plot mechanics. Perfect for fans of Arrival or Eternal Sunshine who want their science fiction served with heavy doses of melancholy and existential weight.
The verdict
If you crave meditative, grief-soaked science fiction that prioritizes emotional devastation over spectacle, this stripped-down reimagining delivers Clooney's most vulnerable work in a suffocatingly intimate setting. If you need plot momentum or traditional sci-fi thrills, this hypnotic chamber piece will likely feel glacially paced and frustratingly oblique.
Watch with
- 👤 Solo viewing for deep contemplation
- 👫 Date night for thoughtful couples
- ⚠️ Skip if you want fast-paced action
Heads up
- Suicide depicted/discussed (moderate)
- Psychological deterioration and mental distress (moderate)
- Brief nudity in intimate scenes (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Steven Soderbergh
- Cast
- George Clooney, Natascha McElhone, Viola Davis, Jeremy Davies, Ulrich Tukur, Michael Ensign, John Cho
Official synopsis
A troubled psychologist is sent to investigate the crew of an isolated research station orbiting a bizarre
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with The Master (2012)
Both explore isolated psychological studies and fractured human consciousness.
Total runtime: 1h 39m + 2h 17m = 3h 56m
