‘Don’t Look Up’s Powerful Image of Society and the Climate Crisis
From technology billionaires to pop star influencers, Adam McKay’s film brings a stellar look into the urgency of focusing our attention in the right problems. In this case, climate change.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence in ‘Don’t Look Up’ / Netflix
What may seem like a dystopian/comedy style film about a comet heading straight towards earth, actually is a story everyone should witness right now. One thing many people are aware of is that climate change is here, and is posing a staggering threat for all life on earth. However, there are still a lot of people out there who don’t seem to be aware of what’s going on or who know about it and simply don’t feel the need to do anything about it.
That’s when a filmmaker like Adam McKay is the perfect solution. His most recent film ‘Don’t Look Up’ on Netflix is a hilarious yet terrifying portrait of modern day society and how people react when they get the news that, well, the world may be ending. The film follows two astronomers who have discovered a planet-killing comet which will hit earth in six months. This news is brought to many, from the President of the United States, Technology CEO Peter Isherwell, to the news anchors of The Daily Rip, and none of them take the news seriously.
As frustrating as the response from public and the people in power was, as you’re watching it’s petrifyingly clear how accurate the situation is. Throughout the film, it is so obvious the main reason the world is unable to act on climate change is because people, especially those with power, fail to understand the weight of the situation.
One of the most powerful aspects of the film is it parallels perfectly with multiple aspects of society. It truly hits everything you’d expect, making for an even more impactful film.
For example, it shows how a celebrity or influencer (in this case Riley Bina) can have a lot more attention and focus from audiences and the media rather than actual important news going on. Additionally, the film showcases how the powerful figures in the technology industry have the money to build rockets and set up their own missions, only for their benefit and income. Finally, you have the politicians, who tend to focus on votes and getting elected rather than focusing on their current position and using their platform to help others.
The beauty of this film is that is shows how we need immediate action on climate change and other life-threatening crisis’s, in an entertaining, funny, and non-attacking way. It’s quite common media that talks about climate change is very depressing and points fingers at the audiences.
Although none of that is bad, a lot of people tend to take it the wrong way or don’t watch content like that in the first place. On the other hand, a film like ‘Don’t Look Up’ brings up similar issues but in a way that will attract audiences and not repel them. It also helps that they hired quite the group of a-list celebrities to be on the project, which further incites people to watch.
So what exactly is ‘Don’t Look Up’ telling us? For one, it’s clear it’s been far too long before any extreme action towards climate change has been taken, and this film clearly shows how urgent it is. The allegory of a comet heading towards earth and only giving humanity six months to find a solutions, is such a clever way to display how humanity is also facing a ticking clock in terms of saving the environment.
This film hits so many areas of society that need dramatic improvements, and there’s no better way to get great dialogue and plot across without amazing actors. Both Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence ruled the screen with emotional and deep performances. You could almost feel their desperation, fear, and frustration, through the screen, only further getting the films message across. Additional supporting roles by Meryl Streep and Jonah Hill helped show the shallowness and selfishness of world leaders. The news anchors played by Cate Blanchett and Tyler Perry allowed the audience to see how the media shields negative content and only display happy or funny moments in order to keep the audience engaged.
Once you’ve finished the film, it’s hard not to take a step back and examine how the movie manages to bring attention to the different areas where society is failing at addressing climate change. It’s clear to say this movie is an urgent call for action, and more specifically, a warning to humanity if no action ends up being taken.