2. Europa Report (2013)
--> Smart science fiction films arent that common these days, so when one comes at the genre from the found footage perspective, its easy to be skeptical. Similar to last summers Prometheus, Europa Report imagines a very plausible, very conceivable future where privately funded space travel continues the search for signs of life in deep space. Just releasing in theaters and On Demand this summer, Corderos brainy and involving film plays a few similar notes to 2001: A Space Odyssey or Sunshine, but ultimately goes another direction. It succeeds because of the exceptional and painstaking details that help suggest its a world thats happening right now as we are looking at it. A cast including Sharlto Copley, Embeth Davidtz, Dan Fogler and Michael Nyquist play second fiddle to a stirring and grounded visual aesthetic that gives us believable ship interiors, vast, lonely cosmic vistas and the silent and icy landscapes of Europa. Instead of stupid alien rock spiders like the low-rent howler Apollo 11, Europa Report imagines mans first contact with alien life as likely within the bounds of human reality. Theres a wealth of real science and scientific theory brought to bear here, and the character dynamics feel textured and relatable. The ultimate thrust of the picture, that human curiosity and hopeful endeavor will always be worth sacrifice is a great highlight to the movies more academic aims. At some level, Europa Report still feels like a goofy sci-fi thriller, but it has a sincerity that draws us into its attainable future world.