The film is the debut feature of Irish director Ruarai Robinson, who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast yesterday morning. Robinson has been Oscar nominated for his animation work, and was once lined-up to direct a Hollywood adaptation of anime classic Akira.
While several reviewers have praised the visuals and design of the new film, many have criticised the film for having an overfamiliar story. Brian Clark of Twitch writes that “many were wondering why exactly the clunky, derivative Mars-zombie movie was programmed at a high-class festival like Cannes.”
The Hollywood Reporter review is more positive, however, optimistically suggesting “its ambition alone will make this a useful calling card for Los Angeles-based Irish filmmaker Ruairi Robinson”, also praising the work of the cast led by Liev Schreiber. Many reviewers are suggesting the low-budget debut, despite its alleged flaws, indicates a promising future for Robinson as a director.
Around the same time as Robinson’s film was enjoying its world premiere as part of the prestigious Directors' Fortnight programme, Irish filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson (Garage, What Richard Did) was voicing some concerns about the supposed success of Irish film at Cannes this year:
.@screendirectors in fairness only 'Last Days on Mars' is actually in Cannes - others are in the market which you buy a place in!
— lenny abrahamson (@lennyabrahamson) May 20, 2013
Not being pedantic - all the media guff about how many Irish films are in Cannes devalues real selections. @screendirectors
— lenny abrahamson (@lennyabrahamson) May 20, 2013
Abrahamson is currently finishing work on his next film Frank, starring Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
