Upside Down

In this sci-fi romance—which shares cinematic DNA with Gattaca and Dark City—the actors are live-action but the deeply-saturated backdrops combine Montreal sets and locations with matte effects. Adam (Jim Sturgess) and Eden (Kirsten Dunst) hail from twin planets in a solar system featuring double gravity. In his awestruck voiceover, Adam explains that Up Top (which recalls Tokyo) thrives by exploiting the more Dickensian Down Below. An orphan, Adam grows up with his aunt, who encourages his desire for exploration (and introduces him to an anti-gravity powder). One day he sends a message that reaches Eden, initiating a forbidden relationship. But it's a strange one, since she can only visit him if they meet atop inverted mountain peaks and he tosses up a rope to pull her down. Unfortunately, their fun ends when they are discovered by the authorities. Ten years pass, after which inventor Adam finds out that Eden works for TransWorld Enterprises, whose headquarters connect the planets, so he takes a job there in order to track her down. At TransWorld, the opposing groups work together—although divided by gravity—and Adam forms a friendship with Bob (Timothy Spall), a disgruntled Up Topper who helps him construct an anti-gravitational vest to reconnect with Eden, except that an accident claimed part of her memory, so Adam must start from scratch. Although the film itself is uneven, Argentinean filmmaker Juan Solanas deserves credit for conjuring up a unique scenario. A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “making-of” featurette (25 min.), three pre-visualization segments (9 min.), storyboards (4 min.), an alternate “History of the World” storyboard opening (3 min.), deleted scenes (2 min.), “Juan and Jim” brief footage, sketches, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an interesting film.] (K. Fennessy)