Amazon Studios has experienced a roller coaster ride in their brief time as a film distributor. Breaking out with Oscar-winning success Manchester by the Sea, many projected them to be a notable name in independent cinema for years to come. After recent box office misses Late Night and Brittany Runs a Marathon, the studio is changing their tune and focusing more on releasing content for their streaming platform, most notably with their latest awards hopefully The Aeronauts. While the film doesn’t reach any new dramatic heights, it successfully draws its audience in with a brisk old-school adventure.
Set in the mid-1800s, The Aeronauts follows pilot Amelia Rennes (Felicity Jones) and scientist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne), two outcasts who attempt to make a name for themselves with an audacious gas balloon flight.
The Aeronauts takes flight when it focuses on its daring mission. Despite working with a tight budget, director Tom Harper flourishes at imbuing tension and majesty in equal hand. He cleverly alternates between wide shots that capture the vastness of the sky with close-quarters shaky cam footage inside the small balloon cart, with that juxtaposing mixture succeeding at placing the audience in the characters’ shoes. It’s also immensely satisfying to watch a blockbuster-type experience that doesn’t rely on gaudy CGI setpieces, with the simplicity of The Aeronauts approach acting as a much-needed pallet cleanser.
Detractors of the film have spoken against its historical inaccuracy, creating Amelia’s character in a fictional narrative. Personally, I don’t mind writer Jack Throne’s unique approach to this story, using both characters to portray idealistic and creative spirits that chase their dream despite being ostracized. Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones (who previously shared the screen in Oscar-winner Theory of Everything), deliver sturdy performances, developing a rapport that naturally builds as challenges arise. Jones, in particular, has a real spark onscreen, with her colorful entrance making a strong impression before revealing Amelia’s deeply-felt battle against the stereotypes of the era.
While the actors make the most of the material, The Aeronauts deflates when its focus drifts away from the balloon. Throne’s script relies heavily on flashbacks to fill-in character backstory, dispersing them throughout the aviators’ journey. Not only do these flashbacks fail at adding dimension, but they also act as awkward breaks from the exciting action in the sky. Outside of familiar character constructs, there isn’t much depth to render a deeper experience.
Despite its uneven structure, The Aeronauts soars when it’s firing on all cylinders, offering a satisfying adventure that will engage in the theater or at home.