Advertisement
Film

‘Bliss’ review: A film that takes a different approach

The intriguing Bliss takes a slightly different approach and is in no hurry to reveal its offbeat conceit, writes Graeme Virtue

The thought of plugging our brains into some sort of immersive simulation to escape the stress or tedium of our daily lives is certainly an appealing one, even if cautionary tales like The Matrix and Black Mirror have warned against embracing the virtual world completely.

The intriguing Bliss takes a slightly different approach and is in no hurry to reveal its offbeat conceit.

Lockdowns have taken income away from hundreds of Big Issue sellers. Support The Big Issue and our vendors by downloading our app and buying a digital copy.

Owen Wilson stars as a harried call centre middle-manager having an absurdly bad day; after a meeting with his boss takes an unexpected turn, he falls in with free spirit Isabel (Salma Hayek), who convinces him to abandon the responsibilities of his dull life and live off the grid for a while.

Writer/director Mike Cahill has a reputation for creating sci-fi head-scratchers on a shoestring, and after cult hits Another Earth and I Origins he is clearly levelling up with appealing stars and a heftier visual effects budget.

Advertisement
Advertisement

But there is something a little disconcerting about how Bliss folds the language and behaviours of addiction into its wider story, even if it does entertainingly answer a previously unasked question: how would Neo deploy his Matrix powers at a roller disco?

Three stars out of five

Bliss is on Amazon Prime Video from February 5

Advertisement

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

Read All
The Beautiful Game: Meet the real-life footballers who inspired Netflix's Homeless World Cup film
Homeless World Cup

The Beautiful Game: Meet the real-life footballers who inspired Netflix's Homeless World Cup film

Cynthia Erivo on identity, migrant crisis and what she's learned playing Elphaba in Wicked
Film

Cynthia Erivo on identity, migrant crisis and what she's learned playing Elphaba in Wicked

Bill Nighy: 'Footballers are physical geniuses creating passages of great beauty. It's fascinating'
Homeless World Cup

Bill Nighy: 'Footballers are physical geniuses creating passages of great beauty. It's fascinating'

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire review – a heartfelt and 'nostalgia-tickling' sequel
Ernie Hudson and Bill Murray in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Film

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire review – a heartfelt and 'nostalgia-tickling' sequel

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue