Last night Andy & I finally got around to going to see “Solaris.” It’s playing at this new gigaplex just off the Loop called River East–21 screens. Not sure if its existence is really necessary, but it’s fairly well organized. I only had two complaints about the theatre: they don’t have coffee at the concession stand and the EXIT signs in the theatre are too bright. And, well, the $9.50 tickets. O yes, this is America.

I really enjoyed the film. It really works on its own terms and stays true to itself. It has its own pacing and development. There are many quasi-Kubrick moments which in lesser hands would seem like a rip off (a la Brian De Palma), but the way Soderbergh does things feels … authentic, like he’s drawing from the same sources of mystery and elgance that Kubrick did. It’s a daring film. It’s different from the Tarkovsky version, doesn’t try to do things the same way. George Clooney was entirely believable, perfectly cast. The visual effects were superb. Still, this is a quiet movie. Not much dialogue. So it’s rewarding in quiet ways. I’m very glad we saw it on the big screen. And glad that Soderbergh didn’t disappoint me.