Gotta say, one of my all time favorite Sci-fi/drama films.
At least for me, this is one of those films where I can go back and watch it again and again and again, and enjoy it just as much the 10th times around as I did the first. Its just such a simple premise and its basically all about the characters. There are no special effects, the film basically takes place in a single room within Johns home, and there are no super crazy theoretical physics or aspects of science that one must understand. The basic premise (spoiler alert!) is that John doesn't die and has lived since Cro-Magnon times. Thats it, the entire premise of the film and the subsequent conversations between the characters regarding this concept make up the vast majority of the film.
On paper, it sounds like what should be one of the most boring films ever made, yet it winds up being the exact opposite for me. First off, I love the concept in itself, that being a man that simply defies nature and simply continues living on generation after generation and the benefits and negative aspects to such an existence that are played out in the conversations that takes place are extremely fascinating, especially considering you have teachers from very different disciplines taking place in these conversations. The result winds up being conversations that approach the subject from multiple angles including scientific, medical, religious, etc.
All in all, the cast did a fantastic job, the dialog is handled extremely well, which I imagine was a lot more difficult that some might think, and the story in itself is just so basic and fascinating. It doesn't get bogged down in super technical exposition. There isn't a single conversation in this film that isn't easily understood and extremely easy to follow. This is basically a film that is 100% conversation and character driven. There are no action sequences, no funky cinematography, no complex plot devices or character motivations. It really is as simple a concept as one could really make for a film and its all played out through the conversations between the characters, in basically a single room in a small house in a single evening. Yet it succeeds exceptionally well at doing just that and the end result is really one of the more fascinating and enjoyable sci-fi/drama films I have seen over the last 20+ years.
I cannot possibly give enough credit to everyone involved with the making of this film. I have no doubt that this film will be remembered after 90% of the other science fiction films released over the last 20+ years are long forgotten.
Still Shooting With Film!