Good Night Oppy
Amazon StudiosSince the beginning of the documentary genre of filmmaking, there has been a desire to capture the scientific truths and experiences of the modern world. Whether through a more traditional educational lens or a more unique voice that blended narrative and emotion with the facts, this has been a staple of film and has provided some of the most moving and important films ever created. Over the last few decades, the desire to give these true stories a stronger emotional backbone with both personality and narrative has grown, with this being realized within projects such as Ryan White's Good Night Oppy. Capturing the events of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover program with a specific focus given to the Opportunity and Spirit rovers.
There is an immediate sense of awe felt within the project both from the scientific discovery as a result of the mission and the human spirit behind it. For those unfamiliar with NASA's Mars Exploration Rover program, seeing tangible photos and discoveries from Mars is sure to carry an incredible weight as Good Night Oppy is able to bring this distant planet to life. The film is incredibly proficient when it comes to mixing actual artifacts and artificial visuals using quite strong visual effects. Good Night Oppy has the ability to truly transport audiences to Mars which is sure to be a great joy to many.
While Good Night Oppy might be tied to the discoveries and events happening on Mars, it is ultimately defined by the efforts taking place on Earth. Good Night Oppy is a story of human endeavor that is both passionate and inspiring. It is a film that shows the power and potential of humans to overcome adversity and struggle. The film also builds a unique relationship between the rovers and their creators that forms an almost parental narrative for the project. It is clear that those creating and controlling these rovers have a genuine bond with them and as the 15-year mission goes on, this relationship only grows. This is a significant chunk of time for these people and their lives, before and after the project, are naturally different. To say goodbye to these rovers means saying goodbye to a large chapter of their lives and, especially towards the end of the film where these individuals reflect on the project and prepare to say that goodbye, there are some genuinely heartbreaking moments of grief and recognization that gives a new layer and gravitas to the entire subject.
This narrative is going to be a defining element of why many are able to connect with the film. Even for those who couldn't care less about Mars or any of the discoveries on it, this tale of human emotion is sure to connect in some way and its inclusion feels near genius. Good Night Oppy also works towards being accessible to the general audience in a few other ways. Keeping the runtime to a shorter 105-minute runtime is smart while the narration by Angela Bassett is also noticeably strong. The visual effects are not only high quality, but are also well-placed to help give the film a more dynamic edge when it comes to showing the rovers and the events happening on Mars. This is a natural progression for White who has crafted a wonderful eye for documentary filmmaking throughout his career thus far, with projects like The Keepers, Assassins, and Ask Dr. Ruth already proving his worth.
While Good Night Oppy might not reach the same poetic emotional highs as projects such as Sara Dosa's magnificent Fire of Love, this is yet another strong example of how to adapt a scientific story for the modern world. By adding a strong thematic narrative and plenty of human emotion to serve as a backbone for the project, Good Night Oppy works hard to engage audiences and give them a satisfying viewing experience without negating or ignoring the scientific core of the project. Good Night Oppy is all around a fantastic documentary and is an easy recommendation for anyone interested in the project.
