Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Starring Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke
Directed by Matt Reeves
If Hollywood executives are sure of just one thing, it's that American audiences won't read subtitles. Director Matt Reeves previously benefited from this conviction when he was tapped to remake the outstanding Swedish vampire fable Let the Right One In (as the excellent Let Me In) for no justifiable reason other than saving mainstream moviegoers some eye strain.
And how does Reeves repay the studio system? By ensuring that his $170-million 3D action film requires viewers to keep their eyes on the bottom of the screen, reading translations of hyper-intelligent apes' heated sign language exchanges. It might be a stretch to label this decision “bold” but it certainly indicates a franchise operating with far greater confidence here than in its meek opening installment.
Ditching the deadweight James Franco, Dawn allows the incredibly expressive Andy Serkis to rightfully assume centre stage and demonstrate what performance capture CGI is capable of when pushed to its limits. Ten years after a pandemic has ended civilization, Serkis' Caesar – leading a tribe of former test animals – must wrestle with his distrust of the surviving humans (headed by Jason Clarke) while also contending with underhanded challenges to his authority from Koba (Toby Kebbell).
While involving throughout and exhilarating on occasion, Reeves' film evolves into something truly noteworthy in its final act. While delivering spectacular set pieces (including a climax that’s a clever, captivating nod to King Kong), it also openly acknowledges the senselessness of its own violence. By displaying a self-awareness that eludes most of its blockbuster brethren, Dawn stands as the alpha of the current box office beasts.
