The “dude in a box” plot is not a new one. But I swear if I held a screenwriting class, I’d make it an assignment every semester. Well, noobs, can you write your way out of a box? I think this is classic test of how to stir emotion without changing setting, player, circumstance, or even wardrobe. What do you do with the limitations of: “your hero is in a box … go?” In the case of Oxygen, the writer aimed for more mystery than problem solving and, hence, the film works a little. Give me room to breath and I’ll tell you what I liked and didn’t like about Oxygen.
It’s a nice box. You should know that. It has futuristic video display monitors and cushions; it’s sterile and clean; it has a computerized interactive voice response system, M.I.L.O. (Mathieu Amalric) I don’t like “MILO;” I’m just gonna call it “Alexa.” Now, back to the confines. This has to be a hospital, right? Elizabeth (Mélanie Laurent) doesn’t know squat. She doesn’t know who she is, where she is, or how she got there. She doesn’t even know she’s “Elizabeth;” the movie names her by her case# until she figures it out. She just knows she’s uncomfortable and her Oxygen is running out; Alexa keeps a count. And nobody seems to be doing anything about it.
Well, what’s your big plan? You’re down to 75 minutes of life before you asphyxiate. You can’t move, but have access to Alexa. What do you do? One of the reasons Elizabeth can’t move is she began the film in a cocoon. When she busted out, was she supposed to be a butterfly? Didn’t happen. Her first order of business other than “where am I?” is “who am I?” How would you find out who you are with the internet as your only tool, huh?
The prevailing question over all of this is “How do I get out if the box?” A prison is a prison, no matter how nice. Also, the status quo will leave you dead just in time before the end credits roll. Yet, there
are other concerns, like: ”Who’s this guy in my memories?” and “What’s wrong with me?” and “Why is there a freaking tube piercing my stomach?” Heck, even “How did I wake up?” would be a good question to answer.
Oxygen has a few surprises in it. The film also has a relatively abundant amount of tension for a movie in which the setting never changes. While the film was there, it also wanted to throw in some horror, thrills, and romance, too, cuz, why not? We may as well get a good picture of who Elizabeth is, right? Buried is still the best box movie, imho. This one was good, but a bit too much of Mélanie whining about circumstance rather than trying to solve problems. The middle is too slow, but the ending too rushed, which describes editing problems. Still, this is a worthwhile “escape room” of sorts. I think it depends a great deal on how much Mélanie Laurent you can stomach, which while 100% relevant, should not be the reason to watch or not watch this film.
Elizabeth is stuck in a box
Has she scurvy or some sort of pox?
But with whereabouts unknown
She needs two meds on her own
What a fascinating pair o’ docs
Rated TV-MA, 100 Minutes
Director: Alexandre Aja
Writer: Christie LeBlanc
Genre: Our screwed … present?
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: How would you like to spend 100 minutes with Mélanie Laurent ?
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: How would you like to spend 100 minutes with Mélanie Laurent ?
