Oct 062012
  October 6, 2012

prometheus

Spoilers Ahead!

Prometheus is one of the most interesting films of the past ten years, as well as one of the best made. So much goodness (Oooh, sooo much goodness…drool; I’ll save that for another time), but then…there’s the problems. Such huge apparent problems. These problems turn many against the movie, but are they actually problems?

I’ll rationalize away the science slips (So Vickers doesn’t know what a light year is; I bet many corporate execs don’t. And excitement and an unknown speech impediment turned fatal 3% carbon monoxide into not so fatal 3% carbon dioxide.) I’m just going to let those go, and dig into the issue that everyone complains about: characters. Prometheus is filled with the stupidest group of non-human-acting humans since the last Adam Sandler movie. Competent people do not act like this when they have any kind of control over themselves. They do not make these kinds of decisions. They do not have ideas this colossally dim. It is hard to feel anything for these people because they are ridiculous.

But is that actually a mistake? These people’s actions may be deeply stupid, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fitting. In fact, looking at what we are given with regard to back-stories, if any of these folks could do their jobs well, that would be a problem. We are used to films with people who are, to some extent, competent and in control of themselves. And there is a tendency to believe what a character says. But just because that’s how people tend to be in other films doesn’t mean that’s how they are here, and we are given substantial reason to believe they are both incompetent and out of control. And no one in Prometheus is reliable to fill in the audience on the truth. Much of the joy I get from the film is in how unreliable these characters are.

So what are the hints (or straight giveaways) that explain why these folks do what they do? Are they really acting “normally”? Well, no to that last question, but under certain circumstances, people don’t behave in ways we take as normal.

A good place to start is by realizing Prometheus isn’t the film you may think it is. It isn’t about science; it is about religion. Not a single main character is motivated by scientific discovery and only one (Shaw) even attempts to act scientifically and religion trumps it even for her. Three characters are motivated by religion, one is motivated by anger, two by money, and the final one by a desire to be something more. No one gives a damn about proper technique. Most have already decided their answers (and fall apart when they are wrong). If the behavior of those in the film bother you, consider if it is really the costuming that you can’t get past. If these characters were all dressed in monk’s robes instead of spacesuits, would their behavior still be off? Because that’s what they are all wearing, you just can’t see them.

As for the rest, let the geeking begin! Let’s fix Prometheus in four steps. (I will mention things from the deleted scenes, but not because they add something that wasn’t in the theatrical release–simply that sometimes they clarify what’s there.)

Step 1: The Leaders

All explanations start with Weyland. He is in charge. All decisions come from him. To judge the rest of the team, we first must judge the man who chose that team. So, how does he act?

  • Spends Trillions on a massively dumb non-scientific theory
  • Believes that the first thing god-like creators would do is grant him immortality
  • Keeps it secret he’s on the ship 
  • Keeps the entire mission secret from Fifield, Milburn, and the flight crew

There’s no need for me to be clever when dealing with Weyland. Not only is his situation clear from the film, his daughter states it. He’s insane. Weyland is a collection of old personality disorders wrapped in delusion. He’s a narcissist, obsessed with his own survival. But that’s underselling it. He’s a loon. He’s a paranoid nut job with diminishing faculties due to exceptionally old age. He suffers from dementia and his board knows it–that’s why he’s in space on his own dime. And he wasn’t exactly stable before. He’s always seen himself as Prometheus (thus the title of the film). He brought fire down to mankind and deserves his reward (what he gets follows the myth closer than his version).

If you’ve only watched the film, then you’ve missed the reason why a young actor was chosen to play an old-man part: The TED talk. Released prior to the film as part of its advertising campaign, the TED talk has a young Weyland explaining his philosophy. Rules are not for him. He is beyond rules. He is Prometheus, bringing civilization to Earth. And yes, he restates the myth, casting “lesser people” and the government in the role of those who punished the titan. But Weyland clearly thinks of himself as someone who can not only bring fire, but get away with it. Weyland has made life (androids in general, David in specific) and he prefers that life to his own child. And who makes life? Gods. I found this clear in the theatrical cut, but a deleted scene lays it out: Weyland has David tell the engineer that Weyland has created life–androids–so is a god like them and is here for his immortality.

He believes the Dumb Theory (my name for Holloway and Shaw’s idea of space gods inviting man to visit) because he no longer has any kind of judgment and sees himself as a god. He’s Prometheus and wants his reward of eternal life, so he’s more than willing to accept their silly idea because it feeds into his delusion.

As important as his god-complex is his paranoia. It’s first spelled out in the TED talk (those lesser people and governments are out to get him) but it is demonstrated throughout the film. Everything is secret because he thinks everyone is out to get him. Why is he hiding on his own ship? He has every right to be taking a space trip to find mythical space-gods; he’s paying for it. But he trusts no one (well, except for David…). So, when looking at all the people in Prometheus, keep in mind the leader, the planner, the man behind everything, is nuts.

Then there is Vickers. What Weyland doesn’t handle, Vickers does. She’s our second in command. She worked out the details. I can’t really list a bunch of things that she does that are stupid (except running in a straight line, and I’ll give you that as a minor problem with the film) because everything she does makes sense to me. But lets take a look at her anyway. What are her defining characteristic? She is angry. Prometheus is a film about how people think about their creators, and Victers’ creator is Weyland. She is his daughter and I’d be pissed off if I was his child too. She’s inherited his sense of privilege. She’s rich and powerful and uses that. But she’s all about what she doesn’t have. She doesn’t have her father’s affection, who clearly likes David more than her (and says so). And she clearly hates David for that. She feels cheated. David shares Weyland’s confidence, not her. She functions with two competing desires: She wants her father’s approval and she wants her father dead. What she does not want is the mission to be a success. She doesn’t think it will be; she does not believe in the Dumb Theory. But the mission succeeding caries the two things she most despises: Her father would live, and David would get the credit.

So, when looking at everyone else, keep in mind that the leader is insane and the second in command wants everything to fail.

 

Step 2: The Secondary Team

People’s biggest objection to Prometheus is the behavior of Fifield and Millburn. They sure don’t act like like competent scientists.

Fifield the Geologiest

  • Has the social skills of an inmate of a Russian prison
  • Displays zero knowledge of rocks
  • Takes off his helmet on an alien world because other nimrods do
  • During the greatest discovery of all time, freaks and runs off
  • Yells at Elizabeth Shaw about rocks before running
  • Can’t find his way out when they barely made turns getting in and he mapped it

Millburn the Biologist

  • Is a smart ass at the briefing just because
  • Displays zero knowledge of biology
  • Takes off his helmet on an alien world because other nimrods do
  • During the greatest discovery of all time, runs off with a guy who’s nasty to him
  • Wears a hoodie–a future hoodie
  • Can’t find his way out when they barely made turns getting in
  • After avoiding using his scientific skills, he decides to pet a vagina-serpent that’s deeply into territorial “I’m going to mess you up bad” display

Easiest way to deal with them is to say, “Yup, they suck.” But what makes you think they should be good? They are not reputable scientists. They aren’t professors. Shaw and Holloway have titles. These two don’t (and that’s quite relevant). There is zero indication in the film that either have training, much less are actual scholars. Fifield says he “likes rocks.” That’s it. He never mentions how he knows anything about them. Just that he likes them. And he has some mapping spheres. What makes you think he knows anything about mapping? I own a car but haven’t a clue how it works. The fact that he has spheres that do all the work automatically implies he doesn’t know anything about the subject. There’s no point in knowing anything about it.

And as for Millburn’s experience, he has never seen any alien life. That’s not entirely on him, as no one in the Alien universe has. Again, this is specified in a deleted scene, but should be clear from the film. In that deleted scene, he is very excited to be the first person ever to see an extraterrestrial worm because nothing that big has ever been found. So, to be clear, he has no experience with actual “aliens.” For all we know these two could be mentally unstable hobos with Internet degrees. And considering in Scott’s universe, where astronauts are not highly trained, dedicated scientists, but rather space truckers, it makes a lot of sense that the “geologist” and “biologist” are just some dudes off Craig’s list. Fifield smoking some kind of drug through his suit’s system is cinematic shortcut indicating that he’s not a guy making good choices nor one who is currently rational.

So we have no reason to think the two of them are any good, but is there reason for them being so terrible? Yup. First, it is stated that they have been told nothing. They do not know what they are doing there. Would any reputable scientist give up five years of his life with no idea what he’s going to be doing? These guys don’t think they are going to be making great discoveries. There is no patriotism involved. It is extremely shady. So these are the kinds of guys who will do anything for money, without questioning who, and why, and where. So the pool of potential applicants is pretty grimy.

And who chose from this pool of misfits and malcontents desperate for cash? Well, it was overseen by a paranoid guy who doesn’t want any of those “smart” people to figure out his secrets. And the interviews and hiring was done by Vickers–who thinks there is no real mission, but if there was, wants it to fail. So these are the two guys hired by an angry woman who wants failure and who, upon meeting the angry woman who keeps the paranoid’s secrets, say “yes.” Of course they’re horrible. It makes more sense that they are drug-addicted, failed thieves running from the mob than that they are scientists, or rational, or stable.

And as a final note on them, no one thinks they serve a purpose. Weyland is certain that no scientists will be needed.

 

Step 3: Holloway & Shaw

Holloway is a slightly more subtle garble than Fifield and Weyland, but that can be more troubling to some as he seems to nearly act like an average human would, but not quite. He is the source of much of the stupidity. He is the genesis of the Dumb Theory (OK, you are saying that’s at least half Elizabeth Shaw’s, but the film never says that and instead gives subtle clues that this is his idea and she’s supporting him). And what a Dumb Theory it is, with stronger versions (that claimed less) discredited in the ’70s when Erich von Däniken peddled such rubbish. A better theory to explain the pictures would be that a nomadic clan of tall circus folk went from ancient civilization to ancient civilization impressing everyone with their ball juggling. The film makes it clear that the Dumb Theory is partly false (there’s no invitation and this world is not the Engineers’ home), though it is also at least party true. But forget “reality”; I’m focusing on Holloway

  • Came up with the Dumb Theory based on a couple pics of juggling
  • Didn’t even check who was on the research team
  • Is a racist (specist? robotist?) dick to David (while on the way to find his creator…)
  • Takes off his helmet on an alien world (if only microbiology had been invented)
  • Acts like a petulant child after making the greatest discovery of all time
  • Gets drunk after said discovery
  • Makes massively insensitive comment to Shaw about her failure to bare children
  • Doesn’t tell anyone that a silver worm is in his eye
  • Quickly and without hesitation commits suicide (his one proper action, though not his only option)

So, a suicidal, depressed, secretive, foolhardy, insensitive jerk clinging to a stupid idea. This one is easy too. Holloway is, and has been for some time, an alcoholic. If his getting drunk and maudlin isn’t an indication of alcoholism, then what is it? A filmmaker like Scott is not so casual. He wouldn’t just happen to make some guy drink excessively at such a time. Nor would he just happen to stick in the entire litany of what we find in alcoholics. Films can only cover small bits of what a person does. Scott chooses to show Holloway being depressed, insensitive, and drinking. That makes those his most important traits (that’s why Scott shows those and not the many other facets of his life).

OK, so, a troubled alcoholic. What else do we know about Holloway? Is he a great scientist? We aren’t shown it. In the only scenes of the pair of them “doing science,” it is Shaw we are shown making discoveries. Maybe Holloway is good. He at least has a degree. But the fact we are shown her doing competent work, and not him, is telling. He appears to be the face of the pair, the one who speaks, and likes to hear himself speak, but the lesser thinker. While Scott leaves it open, it sure looks like what we have is a woman with big time daddy issues who’s in love with an addict and has been carrying him. The only reason someone ignores that much dickishness is that it has been so much worse.

But there is one more vital piece about Holloway: He’s a religious nut-bag. And I describe him that way not because of his ridiculous theory built purely on faith, but on his NEED(which ties in with his alcoholism). He admits it all. He’s not here to discover things. He doesn’t care about science or alien worlds, or our history. All he cares about is meeting God and being told the meaning of life. That’s it. He isn’t subtle about it. He is a miserable drunk who sees no meaning in life and he desperately wants meaning. That’s what he’s all about. So why does he take off his helmet? Why wouldn’t he? This is God’s home. If it isn’t, his life is empty, so to him, he must be right. So of course he could breath. Why is he such an ass to David? Because David was made my man for no great purpose beyond being useful. That implies that maybe man was made by God for no great reason and Holloway cannot handle that. Why does he keep quiet about the sliver in his eye and then suicide? Because nothing matters. God wasn’t there to tell him.

Shaw is the one person who shouldn’t annoy the audience too much. She is more under control than the others because she can balance things better. She can be a zealot and a scientist. But don’t get too carried away with appearances. None of the research team is wholly competent, including her.  What are her defining traits? What does Scott go out of his way to show us about her? Both her parents died when she was a child and she has not gotten over it, particularly her father’s death. She is searching for a father. Next, she is religious. (A deleted scene expands on that.) She believes in the face of contrary facts. She states it: “I choose to believe it.” What she chooses to believe is more important than the facts. She accepts the Dumb Theory not because she’s got enough scientific reason to, but because she “chooses to.” Finally, her inability to have children is a constant source of pain to her. Also, like Holloway, Shaw has never been to space and has no expertise with space, alien planets, or exobiology. She is not an idiot, and she has her major issues under control, but she still has them.

A final note on Shaw and Holloway–they are not there to do work. They are not there for their ideas. They are there as Vickers explains to them, because Weyland is superstitious and wants true believers along (a deleted scene shows Shaw relentlessly bugging Weyland about the Dumb theory (instead of…you know…academics like she should) and Weyland’s software determining that Shaw has faith.

 

Step 4: David

David is really easy, but I’ve heard so many people discussing the film who don’t get him that I suppose I need to look at him to. The complaints are that for an emotionless, soulless, and logical servant of Weyland, his actions often are not helpful  In particular:

  • Infecting Holloway seems to be a poor way to find immortality for Weyland
  • Turning off his cameras as he does seems not to be the stealthiest way to hide what he is doing
  • Keeping the growing alien in Shaw seems like a horrible idea

OK, if you haven’t gotten this by now, stop watching Ridley Scott films: Androids have as much of a soul as humans. Weyland says David lacks a soul, but Weyland is wrong. David has emotions. He has desires. He is as alive as anyone else. He’s just enslaved. So what are David’s defining characteristics. First, he has many of the same qualities, good and bad, as young Weyland. He was based on Weyland. You may have missed part of that as it is in the TED talk that Weyland talks about Lawrence of Arabia. But Weyland does describe David as the closest thing he’s had to a son (a good scene for seeing what a prick Weyland is as he manages to rip into both Vickers and David at the same time). So David has the same drive as Weyland. But he has no choice but to follow commands. His feeling about that are clear: Doesn’t everyone want their parents to die? So, we know that David wants Weyland dead, he hates being a slave, and he wants to be more than he is. We also know what Weyland doesn’t know–that David has a soul. So David follows his orders, but only as he must. He is constantly pushing at the edges. If he can do something to piss someone off–particularly Weyland and Vickers, but anyone, he will. David is a bit of a sadist, as he is lashing out the only way he can.

David could have done his exploration in a more secretive way, but he enjoyed kicking Vickers in one of the few ways he can. He could have done his research in smarter and less cruel ways, but why should he? He got to give the finger to everyone this way while still technically following his orders. Like everyone else on board, David isn’t interested in science. And he doesn’t want Weyland finding immortality. However, unlike Shaw, Holloway, and Weyland, he doesn’t need to find his maker. He knows there are no answers there.

 

Extra Step: Flight Crew

The least important step, but hey, if I’m talking Prometheus, let’s do it all. These guys are mellow. Way mellow. Way way mellow. “Hey, we’re on an alien planet with our creators; cool, let’s groove to some tunes.” “Huh, some guys are off the ship; let’s play the accordion and have sex.” “Hey, that guy is going to destroy Earth; let’s suicide on his ass. Woooooo!!!” Or, to go into bullet point mode, what’s wrong with the Captain and flight crew?

  • Unbelievably calm at all times
  • Emotionally detached
  • Specifically care nothing about the mission beyond doing the flying
  • Consistently mildly Happy
  • Leave no one on duty while the scientists are missing (i.e. irresponsible)
  • Don’t even blink on finding Weyland is onboard
  • Willing to kamikaze with barely a thought and no regrets

Unlike all the other cases, the film doesn’t give an explanation for how the flight crew acts, but simply leaves open a space for me to invent one. That’s because Scott’s reason for having them act this way is artistic. They are there to be the ground, to be what people should be. Everyone else is driven, obsessed, or insane. Everyone else needs to prove something. So the flight crew exists as our example of people that are happy with their own existence.

OK, but can we make them sensible for story as well as message (and keeping in mind they aren’t that much of a problem as is). What gives us people that are overly calm, mildly happy, and unconcerned with what others are doing? That’s easy: drugs. They’re high. Some combination of future pot and space Valium. Some time in the future the Wayland corp found that the crew of a space ship should do very little (did you notice these guys have close to no purpose?). The ship can handle most actions (as it had for several years in this case). The crew is just a backup if something is needed that the ship can’t manage (like ramming another ship). As being a non-essential person on really long trips is REALLY boring, the real fear is that the crew might choose to do something just for excitement. So, all Wayland flight crews are put on a cocktail of happy pills. Yes, in this case the film doesn’t give my answer, but it does make it clear that the flight crews are generally unnecessary and have nothing to do–so what would a company do? It is perfectly fitting.

Conclusion

So, four steps (and an extra step for fun) done. And what does that give us? It gives us a film following the adventures of of a delusional paranoid schizophrenic, an angry ruthless daughter, a sociopathic robot lashing out, a drugged crew, two losers with meaningless degrees chosen by the delusional schizophrenic and angry daughter to do nothing, a few red-shirt employees just following orders, and an alcoholic zealot and his desperate, religious lover. There’s nothing this lot does that is out of character. They do stupid and deranged things exactly as they should.

“But,” say some, “If that’s what they are, then I don’t care when they die, so there is no tension like in Alien.” True. Which is fine. Prometheus isn’t Alien. We already have Alien. Why the hell do you want it again? Yeah, I know, people like the same old thing over and over. It’s why we get so many sequels. But that’s a sad truth about humans. What made Aliens so good was it wasn’t like Alien. Alien was a horror film. Aliens was an action film. They switched genres. Prometheus switched genres again, and is as much of a sequel to Blade Runner as it is a prequel to Alien. It is a religious film. The deaths don’t matter, which is why they aren’t tense and why the characters aren’t “just like us.” The important question in Prometheus is not who will live, but rather who will come to grips with the meaning of their own existence. This is a movie about meeting your creator and what that would mean. As such, the characters represent different views on how we fit into the universe and the death of a character is the death of that view. Weyland thinks he is a god, like his creator. That view is wrong, and he dies to show us that. Holloway needs his creator to give him meaning. That view is also wrong, and he dies. The flight crew dies as well, but they die in control of their lives. They aren’t desperate and nothing is taken from them. Their view is set, and it is a good one, so they end themselves in their own way. The two survivors are the two still searching. (Come on folks, the metaphor is overwhelming.) David knows that no creator can grant meaning, but he is still striving to be something more. And Shaw may have a questionable philosophy, but she’s gone beyond her belief. She no longer has an answer. She doesn’t think her creators will grant her meaning. She just wants to know more.

And that’s Prometheus. Not a film of grand mistakes. Simply one that people keep trying to stick into the wrong box. It isn’t a science fiction action film with smart people working out mysteries. It isn’t a horror film with people we care about in peril. It is something else. And as something else, it is a damn fine movie that makes perfect sense.