Every day, AlloCiné recommends a film to (re)watch on TV. Tonight: a breathtaking space thriller carried by Sean Connery.
After having already dabbled in the science fiction genre with Capricorn One, Peter Hyams explores the space-western subgenre with Outland in 1981. The film is set in the distant future and the action takes place in a colony mine on Jupiter’s moon Io, where William T. O’Niel, a federal marshal played by Sean Connery, investigates a series of incidents and struggles to survive.
If the cold, metallic and without escape universe is reminiscent of that of Alien, the eighth passenger (1980), the main character has the stature of a solitary cowboy, clearly evoking that of Gary Cooper in The Train will whistle three times (1952).
A social and philosophical parable with disturbing resonances, outland deserves to be (re)discovered, especially for its thrilling atmosphere and its innovative special effects (this is the first film to use the IntroVision process, allowing, among other things, to integrate life-size models into the sets).
Upon its theatrical release, outland met with a mixed reception from critics and recorded $17.3 million in revenue in the United States, which was insufficient given its estimated budget of $16 million.
Nevertheless, he obtained an Oscar nomination for Best Sound Mixing, as well as six Saturn Award nominations in the categories Best Science Fiction Film, Best Actor for Sean Connery, Best Screenplay, Best Music for Jerry Goldsmith, Best Special Effects and Best Supporting Actress. This last prize is also won by Frances Sternhagen.
outland by Peter Hyams with Sean Connery, Peter Boyle, Frances Sternhagen…
Tonight on Arte at 8:50 p.m.