The Discovery (2017)

Two years after the afterlife is scientifically proven, a man attempts to help a young woman break away from her dark past.

Director:

Charlie McDowell

Writers:

Charlie McDowell, Justin Lader

Stars:

Robert Redford, Mary Steenburgen, Brian McCarthy

Cast

Credited cast:
Robert Redford	...	Thomas
Mary Steenburgen	...	Interviewer
Brian McCarthy	...	Sound Recordist
Jason Segel	...	Will
Rooney Mara	...	Isla
Jesse Plemons	...	Toby
Ron Canada	...	Cooper
Riley Keough	...	Lacey
Connor Ratliff	...	Coroner
M.J. Karmi	...	Janice (as MJ Karmi)
Kimleigh Smith	...	Hospital Receptionist
Willie C. Carpenter	...	Hospital Janitor (as Willie Carpenter)
Wendy Makkena	...	Mom
Adam Khaykin	...	Oliver (as Adam Morrison Khaykin)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lindsay Schnebly	...	Newscaster

Storyline

Writer-director Charlie McDowell returns to Sundance this year with a thriller about a scientist (played by Robert Redford) who uncovers scientific proof that there is indeed an afterlife. His son is portrayed by Jason Segel, who's not too sure about his father's "discovery", and Rooney Mara plays a mystery woman who has her own reasons for wanting to find out more about the afterlife.

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Plot Keywords:

suicide | alternative reality | after life | playing in the surf | playing a mouth organ | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 March 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Descoberta

Filming Locations:

Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Endgame Entertainment,Netflix,Protagonist Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed at Newport Hospital in Newport, Rhode Island.

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Goofs

The interview at the beginning is obviously given a blue hue for a lifeless feel and the curtains are open for symbolic reasons. If this had been a real video interview, the drapes would have been closed or the exterior light would be blown out as seen, which creates far too much contrast. The alternative would have been to stop down the shutter and ramp up the lights by 300%, which would have greatly reduced the contrast, creating an easily viewable image. Any good video producer would have known this an adjusted accordingly.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Interviewer: Dr. Harber, before we're live, I just wanted to say thank you for choosing me.
Thomas: [warming up his voice] Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Interviewer: The rich history you have with other journalists...
Thomas: I chose you precisely because we don't have a history. Now, don't fuck it up.
Producer: Fifteen seconds...

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Jason Segel/Lilly Singh/Brian Regan (2017)

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Soundtracks

Cantata BWV 52 (Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen) - Recitative
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Orchestre Symphonique de Radio-Tele-Luxembourg
Courtesy of Forlane
Under License from 5 Alarm Music

User Reviews

The ratings do not do this movie justice.

I went into this movie with a "I have time to spare, seems like an interesting concept, the 6.5 rating is worthy enough to waste some time on".

But when I finished it, boy I was angry. And not because of the movie, but because of the ratings.

This movie will not show you fancy Hollywood sci-fi tricks, it will not give you jump-scares and it will definitely not maintain your religion (hey, could this be the reason of the bad ratings?) It will however, open your mind to a whole new concept of feelings and reality. The closest I can compare the feelings I experienced watching this to is "A beautiful mind" and "Mr. Nobody". It is very VERY different from those movies, however, it's the only way I can describe the experience.

Again, do not let the ratings fool you, (generic) Hollywood and religion came by and clearly cast their votes to deceive you.

Watch this movie.