Solaris (2002)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Steven Soderbergh

Writers (WGA):

Stanislaw Lem (novel)
Steven Soderbergh (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 November 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

There are some places man is not ready to go

Plot:

A troubled psychologist is sent to investigate the crew of an isolated research station orbiting a bizarre planet.

Plot Keywords:

Planet | Space Station | Dead Wife | Memories | Spacesuit

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

George Clooney	...	Chris Kelvin
Natascha McElhone	...	Rheya
Viola Davis	...	Gordon
Jeremy Davies	...	Snow
Ulrich Tukur	...	Gibarian
John Cho	...	DBA Emissary #1
Morgan Rusler	...	DBA Emissary #2
Shane Skelton	...	Gibarian's Son
Donna Kimball	...	Mrs. Gibarian
Michael Ensign	...	Friend #1
Elpidia Carrillo	...	Friend #2
Kent Faulcon	...	Patient #1 (as Kent D. Faulcon)
Lauren Cohn	...	Patient #2 (as Lauren M. Cohn)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Clemons	...	Dinner Guest (uncredited)
Annie Morgan	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Jude S. Walko	...	City Dweller (uncredited)

Directed by
Steven Soderbergh

Writing credits (WGA)
Stanislaw Lem		(novel)
Steven Soderbergh		(screenplay)

Produced by
Charles V. Bender	....	co-producer
James Cameron	....	producer
Gregory Jacobs	....	executive producer
Jon Landau	....	producer
Michael Polaire	....	co-producer
Rae Sanchini	....	producer

Original Music by
Cliff Martinez

Cinematography by
Steven Soderbergh		(director of photography) (as Peter Andrews)

Film Editing by
Steven Soderbergh		(as Mary Ann Bernard)

Casting by
Debra Zane

Production Design by
Philip Messina

Art Direction by
Steve Arnold
Keith P. Cunningham

Set Decoration by
Mike Malone
Kristen Toscano Messina

Costume Design by
Milena Canonero

Makeup Department
Linda D. Flowers	....	hair stylist
Kathrine Gordon	....	hair department head
Julie Hewett	....	makeup department head
Lori Rozman	....	assistant hair stylist
Waldo Sanchez	....	hair stylist: Mr. Clooney
Nikoletta Skarlatos	....	makeup artist
Christien Tinsley	....	key makeup artist
Buffy Zerefski	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Julie M. Anderson	....	production supervisor
Monica De Armond	....	post-production supervisor
Michael Polaire	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Trey Batchelor	....	first assistant director: second unit
Gregory Jacobs	....	first assistant director
Basti Van Der Woude	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Adam L. Barker	....	lead plaster foreman
Brent W. Bell	....	set dresser
Dawn Brown	....	set designer
Kirk Corwin	....	property master
Andrea Dopaso	....	set designer
Monica Fedrick	....	graphic artist: video playback material
Joey Genitempo	....	painter
Hank Giardina	....	paint supervisor
Wylie Griffin	....	art department coordinator
John Harrington	....	assistant property master
Sean Haworth	....	assistant art director
Guy Hietala	....	paint gang boss
Bill 'Kauhane' Hoyt	....	stand-by painter
Blair Huizingh	....	graphic designer
Helen Kozora	....	set decoration buyer
Steven Ladish	....	set dresser
Lance Larson	....	prop assistant
Tom Mahoney	....	graphic artist: video playback material
Geoffrey Mandel	....	scenic artist
Victor James Martinez	....	set designer
Ron Mendell	....	set designer
Jeff Ozimek	....	set designer
Edward V. Pannozzo	....	set dressing estimator
Eric Ramirez	....	set dresser
Richard Reynolds	....	set designer
Lori Rozzi	....	property and set dressing fabricator
Lissette Schettini	....	set decorating coordinator
Easton Michael Smith	....	set designer
Chris Snyder	....	construction coordinator
Aaron Sowd	....	conceptual designer
Keith Stalker	....	foreman construction
Rick Sternbach	....	graphic artist: video playback material
Mark Robert Taylor	....	art department assistant
Suzan Wexler	....	set designer
T.C. Williams	....	mold maker foreman
Suzy Zarate	....	illustrator (as Susan Zarate)
Gustavo R. Ferreyra	....	digital set designer (uncredited)
Gustavo R. Ferreyra	....	propshop supervisor (uncredited)
Ryan Handt	....	construction propmaker (uncredited)
J. Bryan Holloway	....	sculptor (uncredited)
Ellen Lampl	....	graphic designer (uncredited)
Michele Mulkey	....	props (uncredited)
Sid Nicholson	....	props (uncredited)
George Sartiano	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Larry Blake	....	sound re-recording mixer
Larry Blake	....	supervising sound editor
Derek Casari	....	adr engineer
Mick Gormaley	....	assistant sound editor
Matthew Griffin	....	editing room assistant (as Matt Griffin)
Randall L. Johnson	....	boom operator
Paul Ledford	....	production sound mixer
Kimberly R. McCord	....	dialogue editor (as Kimberly McCord Wilson)
Brian McKinney	....	utility boom
Alex Names	....	sound utility
John Pospisil	....	sound editor
Eric Potter	....	sound effects recordist
Nicholas Renbeck	....	lead sound editor
Paul Urmson	....	sound editor
Shawn Holden	....	sound mixer: reshoots (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Garnet Baril	....	special effects technician
Oscar G. Castillo	....	special effects
William Cobb	....	special effects foreman
Manuel S. Epstein	....	special effects technician (as Manny Epstein)
David Escher	....	special effects technician
Lucinda Foy	....	special effects technician
Werner Hahnlein	....	special effects supervisor
Kevin Hannigan	....	special effects coordinator
Kevin Hannigan	....	special effects supervisor
William D. Harrison	....	special effects technician
Al Marangoni	....	special effects technician (as Albert Marangoni)
David A. Poole	....	special effects technician
Ron Rosegard	....	special effects technician
Michael Roundy	....	special effects foreman (as Michael D. Roundy)
David Satchwell	....	key lighter
Anthony Simonaitis	....	special effects technician
Ken Tarallo	....	special effects technician
Paul Vigil	....	special effects set foreman (as Paul E. Vigil)
Tim Walkey	....	special effects technician
Vaughn Williams	....	special effects supervisor (as Vaughn M. Williams)
Mark Yuricich	....	special effects foreman
Tim Ziegenbein	....	special effects shop foreman

Visual Effects by
Matthew Adams	....	rotoscope supervisor
Danny Albano	....	digital effects artist
Kenneth Au	....	Inferno artist: Rhythm & Hues (as Ken Au)
Randall Bahnsen	....	3D tracker: Cinesite (as Randy Bahnsen)
Randall Bahnsen	....	motion tracking supervisor: Cinesite (as Randy Bahnsen)
Chris Bailey	....	CG animation supervisor: Cinesite
Richard 'Dr.' Baily	....	digital planet animation: Image Savant
Jeffrey Edward Baksinski	....	3D manager: Cinesite (as Jeff Baksinski)
Scott Ballard	....	CG character setup: Cinesite
Jil-Sheree Bergin	....	visual effects production coordinator: Rhythm & Hues (as Jill-Sheree Bergin)
Chris Bergman	....	digital compositor: Rhythm & Hues
Doug Bloom	....	CG effects: Rhythm & Hues
Brigitte Bourque	....	composite supervisor: Cinesite
Brooke Breton	....	visual effects supervising producer
Melissa Brockman	....	visual effects producer: Cinesite (as Melissa Brockman Kalmus)
William J. Brooks	....	CG lighter: Cinesite (as Billy Brooks)
Brian Burks	....	CG animator: Cinesite
Jesus Castillo	....	systems operations: Rhythm & Hues
Oscar G. Castillo	....	CG technical director: Cinesite (as Oscar Castillo)
Daniel Aristoteles Collins	....	systems/operations: Rhythm & Hues
Brandon Craig	....	render supervisor
Chris Dawson	....	motion control camera operator
Michelle Deniaud	....	texture painter: Rhythm & Hues
Ralph Denson	....	visual effects production manager
Scott Dougherty	....	executive producer: Cinesite
Anders Ericson	....	CG effects: Rhythm & Hues
Vijoy Gaddipati	....	technical director: Rheya face sequence
Bill Georgiou	....	digital compositor: Rhythm & Hues
Jonathan Gerber	....	CG supervisor: Cinesite
Glen Gustafson	....	3D texture painter: Cinesite
David Gutman	....	digital compositor: Rhythm & Hues
Erik Hakanen	....	scanning & recording coordinator
Michael S. Harbour	....	digital compositor: Cinesite (as Michael Harbour)
John Heller	....	CG planet supervisor: Rhythm & Hues
Nicole Herr	....	3D tracker: Cinesite
John Hewitt	....	CG supervisor: Cinesite
Richard E. Hollander	....	visual effects supervisor: Rhythm & Hues (as Richard Hollander)
Phil Holland	....	scanning & recording operator
Shaina Holmes	....	digital compositor
Arkay Hur	....	digital painter: Cinesite
Patrick D. Hurd	....	production coordinator
Chris Jensen	....	digital imaging operations
Jimmy Jewell	....	digital compositor: Rhythm & Hues
Nori Kaneko	....	texture painter: Rhythm & Hues
Michael Karp	....	3D matchmover: Cinesite
Michael Karp	....	3D tracker: Cinesite
Frances Kumashiro	....	CG lighter: Cinesite
Bill LaBarge	....	CG technical director: Cinesite
Kevin LaNeave	....	video editor
Vincent Lavares	....	digital asset manager: Cinesite Hollywood
Sonserae Leese	....	texture painter: Cinesite
Kenneth Littleton	....	2D manager
Mike Makara	....	CG animator: Cinesite
Valerie McMahon	....	digital painter: Cinesite
Sean McPherson	....	2D supervisor: Rhythm & Hues
Sal Migliore	....	high def digitizing
Kama Moiha	....	digital compositor: Cinesite
Carl S.G. Moore	....	visual effects associate producer: Cinesite (as Carl Moore)
Andrew Mumford	....	Inferno artist: Rhythm & Hues
Bill Murphy	....	visual effects coordinator
Ofer Nave	....	render coordinator
Tony Noel	....	compositor: Planet Creation/Rhythm & Hues
Gary Nolin	....	visual effects producer: Rhythm & Hues
Sean O'Connor	....	digital compositor: Cinesite
Mike O'Neal	....	digital artist
Nathan Ortiz	....	render coordinator
James Parris	....	visual effects concept artist
Corinne Pooler	....	digital paint supervisor: Cinesite
Travis Price	....	texture painter: Cinesite
Dante Quintana	....	technical director: CG modelling & rendering, Cinesite
Jon Quon	....	technical assistant: Cinesite
Steve Rhee	....	visual effects editor: Cinesite
Olun Riley	....	CG previsualization: Cinesite
Jonathan Robinson	....	digital compositor: Rhythm & Hues
Christopher Romano	....	CG effects: Rhythm & Hues (as Chris Romano)
Tomás Rosenfeldt	....	CG effects: Rhythm & Hues
Justine Sagar	....	texture painter: Cinesite
Joe Salazar	....	digital compositor: Rhythm & Hues
David Satchwell	....	CG lighter: Cinesite
Rasha Shalaby	....	compositor: Rhythm & Hues
Mark Shoaf	....	CG lead technical director: Cinesite
Cybele Sierra	....	digital compositor: Cinesite
Suzanne Smith	....	texture painter
Thomas J. Smith	....	visual effects supervisor: Cinesite
Robert Stromberg	....	planet designer: Rhythm & Hues
Kenji Sweeney	....	3D CG supervisor: Cinesite
Rob Trent	....	Inferno artist: Rhythm & Hues
Andrew Ryan Turner	....	assistant visual effects editor: Cinesite
Renée Tymn	....	digital compositor: Cinesite (as Rene Chamblin)
Marla Valentine	....	systems operator: Rhythm & Hues
Nico Van den Bosch	....	pipeline setup: Rhythm & Hues
Wayne Vincenzi	....	CG lighting supervisor: Cinesite
Dan Wanket	....	CG modeler: Cinesite
Eric Weinschenk	....	digital compositor: Rhythm & Hues
Steve Wright	....	digital compositor: Cinesite
Serkan Zelzele	....	digital compositor: Rhythm & Hues (as Sherkan Zelzele)
Patrick Zentis	....	matte artist: Digital Backlot
Bjorn Zipprich	....	CG modeler: Cinesite
Scot Byrd	....	publicist: Rhythm & Hues (uncredited)
Wally Chin	....	3D technical assistant (uncredited)
J. Todd Constantine	....	technical assistant: Cinesite (uncredited)
Robert Coquia Jr.	....	3D technical assistant (uncredited)
Fred Jimenez	....	3D technical assistant: Cinesite Hollywood (uncredited)
Stuart Mintz	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)
Monty Phillips	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Sean Rourke	....	visual effects editor: Cinesite (uncredited)
Kevin Tengan	....	systems administrator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
James W. Apted	....	assistant camera
Russell Ayer	....	electrician
Dana Baker	....	best boy grip
Kent Baker	....	key rigging grip
James Barrett	....	electrician
Bobby Brown	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Brek Cooney	....	grip: re-shoot
Will Dearborn	....	camera loader
Andrew Dumas	....	second assistant camera
Raymond Gonzales	....	electrician
Barry Idoine	....	assistant camera: "a" camera
Christopher Just Weaver	....	assistant camera
Al LaVerde	....	key grip
Duane Manwiller	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Duane Manwiller	....	director of photography: second unit
Damon Marcellino	....	assistant chief lighting technician: rigging crew
Bob Marshak	....	still photographer
Ken Metz	....	grip
James Plannette	....	gaffer
Eric Wolfson-Sagot	....	best boy electric
Alex M. Cacciarelli	....	motion control video assist (uncredited)
Mark Mele	....	stage rigging gaffer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Rich King	....	extras casting
Terri Taylor	....	casting associate
Erin Toner	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Corey Bronson	....	set costumer
Eduardo Castro	....	associate costume designer
Jordanna Fineberg	....	assistant costume designer
Sarah Jane Gardam	....	costume production assistant
Betsy Glick	....	costumer
Joby Harris	....	costume concepts
Shoshana Rubin	....	set costumer
Aya Tanimura	....	wardrobe
Catherine Wall	....	cutter/fitter
Beverly Woods	....	costumer
Annie Yun	....	costume production assistant

Editorial Department
Brian Patrick Chalk	....	negative cutter
Greg Curry	....	dailies colorist (as Greg 'Curly' Curry)
David Kirchner	....	first assistant editor
Susan Littenberg	....	associate editor
Vincent Mourou	....	assistant editor
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Aaron Scully	....	editorial assistant
Tim Streeto	....	assistant editor
Norman R. Walker	....	assistant editor
Dava Whisenant	....	editorial assistant
Harold Lee Yen	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Slamm Andrews	....	additional score mixer
Bruce Fowler	....	conductor
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
Shiro Gutzie	....	soundtrack producer
Sadik Hakim	....	composer: song "Eronel"
Charles B. Kim	....	music programmer (as Charles Kim)
Jason Lloyd	....	scoring crew
David Low	....	scoring contractor
Alan Meyerson	....	score mixer
Alan Meyerson	....	score recordist
John Rodd	....	orchestral scoring recordist
John Rodd	....	score recordist
Fredrik Sarhagen	....	additional score mixer
Tom Steel	....	scoring crew
Bill Talbott	....	scoring technician (as Bill Talbot)
Leanne Ungar	....	musician: steel drum

Transportation Department
Gina August	....	driver
Rich Bennetti	....	transportation captain
Chris Gorden	....	driver
Shane Greedy	....	transportation coordinator
Paul Tumber	....	transportation

Other crew
Alex Apple	....	key assistant location manager
Kate Burgess	....	production assistant: Chicago
Lisa Butala	....	assistant to producer
Wendy Chesebrough-Miller	....	assistant: Mr. Cameron (as Wendy Chesebrough)
Todd Cogan	....	assistant: Mr. Cameron
Amy Minda Cohen	....	assistant: Mr. Clooney
Kimberly Cooper	....	production executive: Fox
Renee D. Czarapata	....	first assistant accountant
Monica De Armond	....	assistant: Mr. Soderbergh, New York
Betsy Dennis	....	assistant: Steven Soderbergh and Gregory Jacobs
Virginie Drouot	....	office production assistant
Robb Earnest	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Brent Ekstrand	....	video and computer engineer
Tim Flattery	....	conceptual illustrator
Monica Frommholz	....	assistant production coordinator
Martin Garner	....	computer engineer (as Marty Garner)
Marc C. Geschwind	....	extras coordinator
Jenny Gienger	....	assistant to cast
Noelle Green	....	production office coordinator (as Noelle Chapin)
Jason Hinkel	....	first assistant accountant
Marisol Jiménez	....	construction accountant
Greg Kappy	....	assistant location manager
Christian Krieger	....	assistant location manager
James R. Maceo	....	location manager
Todd A. Marks	....	computer/video supervisor (as Todd Aron Marks)
Lynne Martin	....	set production assistant
Debbie Merritt	....	assistant production office coordinator: re-shoots
Debbie Merritt	....	production secretary
Kevin D. Reagan	....	computer consultant
Alice Ritscher	....	assistant accountant
Sonny Ritscher	....	production accountant
Andrea Roa	....	production assistant
Sarah Shackleton	....	assistant: Mr. Cameron
Monica Lee Steen	....	assistant: Mr. Landau
Spooky Stevens	....	unit publicist
Kim E.F. Troy	....	assistant: Ms. Sanchini
Danny A. White	....	medic
Jeff Winn	....	craft service

Thanks
Mike Nichols	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (as Twentieth Century Fox)
• Lightstorm Entertainment

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Italia (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2003) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Gemini Film (2003) (Russia) (theatrical)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2003) (Argentina) (all media)
• Gativideo (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2003) (Argentina) (VHS)
• RTL Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL7)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Cinesite (Hollywood) (visual effects and animation)
• Rhythm and Hues (planet development and effects)

Other Companies

• 20th Century Fox Studios  foley recording (as Twentieth Century Fox)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Custom Film Effects  titles and opticals
• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints
• FotoKem Laboratory  color (as Fotokem)
• J.L. Fisher  additional camera dollies
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation (as Jo Ann Kane Music Services)
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting
• Masterwords  cutting continuity
• NT Audio Visual  optical sound track negative
• Newman Scoring Stage, Twentieth Century Fox Studios, The  orchestra recorded at
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities
• Scarlet Letters  titles
• Superb Records  soundtrack
• Swelltone Labs  sound re-recording

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 on appeal for sexuality/nudity, brief language and thematic elements.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Brazil:14 | USA:R (original rating) | Finland:K-11 | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | Iceland:12 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) (2007) | Singapore:NC-16 (theatrical release) (cut) | Singapore:PG (cut) (video rating) (2003) | Netherlands:12 | South Africa:13LS | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Ireland:15 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Philippines:R-18 | South Korea:12 | South Korea:15 (special edition) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (re-rating on appeal)

Filming Locations:

7th & Hope Streets, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

There is a sign on Athena's engines stating "Dals Ed Mitt i naturen" Dals Ed is a small town in western Sweden close to the Norwegian border. The artist put it there because "Athena must have passed Dalsland sometime".

Goofs:

Anachronisms: George Clooney is shown traveling in a sleek slightly futuristic rapid transit train but the rear projection/blue screen out the window clearly shows the current day "Merchandise Mart" station of the Chicago CTA Subway. Also during his journey the train he passes going the opposite direction is a present day subway train.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Chris's memories, in voiceover]
Rheya Kelvin: Chris, what is it? I love you so much. Don't you love me anymore?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: You've Been Gilmored (#6.14)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Riddle Box

Powerful, thought-provoking metaphysical journey - A great remake.

My two favorite examples of Hollywood utterly destroying GREAT foreign films are Vanilla Sky and City of Angels, which were abominations of two of my favorite films - Open Your Eyes and Wings of Desire. If you've seen Tarkovsky's brilliant "Solyaris" this film will seem more like an Americanized tribute than a Hollywoodization of a great piece of Soviet cinema. Some will likely ask why Soderbergh bothered to make this film if he couldn't improve on the original. Personally, I could not care less. This is a great film, and shows that it is possible for Americans to remake classic non-American films sensitively, intelligently and well.

To cut to the chase - if you like sci-fi with a soul,which stretches the boundaries of imagination, explores the uncharted realms of the human condition as much as the unknown realities of the universe, and swims upstream against the currents of ethics, physics, and even metaphysics, you will probably enjoy this moody, slow, multi-leveled and heavily textured film. If you're looking for light entertainment, stay away from this. This is a slow, intense film - dominated by dialog - and there is no action to speak of. Also, you need to let this movie pour into you slowly, so if you're not in the right frame of mind to pay attention and be receptive, you should save it for another occasion.

The cast is exceptionally good. This is unequivocally the best performance I have seen out of George Clooney, but the supporting cast and the female lead all blew me away. Soderbergh does have a talent for making actor's look good, even mediocre actors, but there is nothing mediocre about any of the performances in this film.

Though I recognize his talent, Soderberg's dialogical technique has worn particularly thin with me. The once fresh fast-paced, rapid-fire cuts and close-ups with the low-toned exchange of sentence fragments, and the myriad Soderberg imitators, particularly in television crime drama, have really gotten on my nerves. Solaris, however, is a bit different. There are only a few "Soderbergh moments" in this rich remake of the classic bit of 1970s soviet SciFi "Solyaris". Both films are based on a novella by the brilliant Stanislaw Lem. This film, perhaps even more than Tarkovsky's 1972 edgy, dark, and intense original, will appeal to exactly the sort of movie-goer that Lem's writing appeals to. Neither film captures Lem's quirky sense of humor. I am quite glad that Soderbergh chose to make Solaris with very much the same atmospheric eeriness, plot, and intellectual and emotional depth as the original. It is a tribute to his artistic integrity that he recognizes the brilliance of the original work, and imitates it wherever he can do no better, adding subtle and appropriate nuances and embellishments to make it his own. Some examples are the wonderfully minimalistic soundtrack, and the very Soderbergh symbolic use of lighting and color saturation to shift from the retrospective to the live-action shot. Perhaps the best tribute I can give this film is the fact that I am going to watch the original again in a few days for comparative purposes.

In other words, this isn't going to be for everybody, nor, even, for most. I am hardly surprised by the very low (in my opinion) ratings received by this film here on IMDb. Solaris is a love story, a story of exploring the fringes of sanity, and of questioning the very nature of reality, and much more. Enjoy it!