Infinite (film) explained

Infinite
Director:Antoine Fuqua
Screenplay:Ian Shorr
Decat:yes
Child:yes
Label1:Screen story by
Data1:Todd Stein
Music:Harry Gregson-Williams
Cinematography:Mauro Fiore
Editing:Conrad Buff
Distributor:Paramount+
Runtime:106 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

Infinite is a 2021 American science fiction action film directed by Antoine Fuqua, from a screenplay written by Ian Shorr based on a story by Todd Stein (itself adapted from D. Eric Maikranz's 2009 novel The Reincarnationist Papers).[1] The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sophie Cookson, Jason Mantzoukas, Rupert Friend, Toby Jones and Dylan O'Brien.[2]

The film was digitally released on Paramount+ on June 10, 2021, following delays from its original August 2020 theatrical release due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] [4] [5] It received negative reviews from critics who criticized the performances and screenplay, with some comparing it unfavorably with other films like The Matrix. The film received three nominations at the Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture.

Plot

In 1985 Mexico City, Heinrich Treadway tries to escape the authorities and a man named Bathurst. Treadway and his associates, Abel and Leona, speak about "the Egg", which Treadway stole from Bathurst. Treadway tells Abel that if he does not survive, the latter must remember to "look inside". He drives off a bridge, jumping from his car in mid-air and onto a crane 150 feet away. However, Treadway watches helplessly as Bathurst arrives and kills Abel and Leona.

In 2020 New York City, Evan McCauley suffers from schizophrenia. Because of past institutionalization and violent behavior, he cannot get a job. He forges a katana for a local gangster, even though he was never trained as a bladesmith. After the deal goes south, Evan makes his escape but is later arrested. A man at the police station introduces himself as Bathurst, claiming they have known each other for centuries.

Nora Brightman bursts into the room, and helps Evan escape. She explains that a group of 500 individuals, known as the Infinites, can remember all their past lives, divided between two groups: the Believers, including Nora, who want to make the world better, and the Nihilists, including Bathurst, who want to end the world. The Nihilists planned to prevent Infinites from being reborn by containing their souls in computer chips, and had developed an egg-shaped weapon capable of destroying all life on Earth, although Evan (Treadway's reincarnation) had stolen and hidden the egg during his past life shortly before Bathurst killed him.

Nora (Leona's reincarnation) explains that most Infinites remember their past lives around puberty, which is why Evan was diagnosed schizophrenic. Evan struggles to regain Treadway's memories as a result of trauma endured from accidents earlier in life. However, another Infinite, named the Artisan, has a machine that restores Evan's memories.

Bathurst overhears this, locates Evan's old body, and finds the egg hidden inside. Before he is able to detonate it, the Believers recover the egg, contain Bathurst's soul in a chip, and free the souls of all their comrades, including Abel's, although Evan and Nora die in the process.

Years later, Nora and Abel are reborn and they meet at the Beginning. Evan is reborn in Jakarta, Indonesia. Artisan, now older, visits him and offers a katana to the younger Evan, who regains his memories upon recognizing him.

Production

Development

D. Eric Maikranz self-published The Reincarnationist Papers in 2009. Due to his difficulties to find a literary agent to have his book adapted into a film, he announced a campaign in the first edition of the book, offering to his readers a commission to someone who successfully pitched a film adaptation of his book to a Hollywood producer. By eighteen months, he received an email from Rafi Crohn, a junior executive at a Hollywood production company who found his book in a Nepalese hostel. (Maikranz paid the commission to Crohn in December 2019.)[6] The screenplay was voted onto the Black List in 2017.[7]

In March 2017, Deadline reported that Paramount Pictures had bought the rights to Shorr and Stein's adaptation, which was described as Wanted meets The Matrix, with Mark Vahradian and Lorenzo di Bonaventura along with John Zaozirny and Crohn set to produce the film. The same Deadline article mistakenly called Shorr and Stein's screenplay as a spec script and Maikranz's book as "unpublished".[8] By November 2018, Paramount began talks with Antoine Fuqua to direct the film.[9] It was announced in February 2019 that Chris Evans had entered negotiations to star in the film, with Fuqua officially confirmed as director.[10] That same month, John Lee Hancock was reported to have provided rewrites on Shorr's script.[11] In June, Evans dropped out of the project due to scheduling conflicts with Defending Jacob, with Mark Wahlberg entering negotiations to replace him.[12] [13] Wahlberg was confirmed in August, with Sophie Cookson and Dylan O'Brien added to the cast.[14] [15] In September, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Rupert Friend and Jason Mantzoukas were cast.[16] [17] [18] Tom Hughes was cast in October.[19]

Production

Filming began in September 2019. Scenes were shot in central Cardiff,[20] Farnborough Airport[21] and an indoor ski facility, The Snow Centre, during a week long shutdown to the public.[22] [23] Filming was also done at ex-Rothschild stately home Mentmore Towers in Buckinghamshire, in London, Mexico City, Guanajuato, Nepal, New York City, Scotland, Cambodia and the Alps.[24]

Music

Harry Gregson-Williams, who worked with director Antoine Fuqua on his previous films, composed the film score. Paramount Music & La-La Land Records has released the soundtrack.

Track listing

[25]

Release

Infinite was originally scheduled for a theatrical release on August 7, 2020,[26] but was delayed to May 28, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[27] It was delayed again to September 24, 2021, when A Quiet Place Part II was moved to the May slot.[28] On May 6, 2021, Paramount cancelled Infinites theatrical release, and instead digitally released it via Paramount+ on June 10, 2021.[29] In countries where Paramount+ isn't available as a streaming service, the film was released through ViacomCBS-owned SVOD services Paramount Play and Paramount+ on August 23, 2021.[30] The film was released on Blu-ray and DVD on May 17, 2022, by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Reception

Critical response

[31] [32]

Ty Burr of The Boston Globe gave the film 1.5/4 stars and wrote: "Heading straight to streaming platform Paramount+ without the embarrassment of appearing in theaters first, the movie is both blissfully incoherent and weirdly generic, as if it had been assembled from the spare parts of other movies and glued together with stuntwork."[33] From The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney said: "Infinite is a soulless grind. Juiced up with a succession of CG-enhanced accelerated chases and fight action interspersed with numbing bursts of high-concept geek speak, Antoine Fuqua's sci-fi thriller isn't helped by a lead performance from Mark Wahlberg at his most inexpressive."[34]

In his review for Variety, Peter Debruge called the film "Matrix-meets-The Old Guard wannabe" and wrote: "The more you start to nitpick this movie, the more innumerable its plot holes appear, until the whole thing collapses in on itself."[35] Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times said: "The script doesn't reincarnate so much as it recycles, drawing freely on the nested realities of Inception, the free-your-mind metaphysics of The Matrix and the amnesiac-assassin[36] revelations of the Jason Bourne movies. Maybe watch one of those tonight instead."[37] Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com gave the film 0.5/4 stars, saying that "rather than crafting a high-concept science-fiction marvel, Fuqua's Infinite relies on shoddy VFX and ropey world-building for the worst film of his career."[38]

The New York Times listed the film as one of the "Worst Films of 2021".

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Golden Raspberry AwardsWorst PictureLorenzo di Bonaventura, Mark Huffam, Stephen Levinson,
Mark Vahradian, Mark Wahlberg and John Zaozirny		[39]
Worst ActorMark Wahlberg
Worst Supporting ActressSophie Cookson

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Infinite – WGA Directory . March 31, 2020 . WGAEast . April 23, 2021 . April 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210424023458/https://findawriter.wgaeast.org/project/1184086/infinite/ . live .
  2. Web site: INFINITE (2021) Movie Trailer 2: Mark Wahlberg & Chiwetel Ejiofor Have Been Reincarnated and Enemies for Centuries. film-book.com. 7 June 2021. 2021-06-10. 2021-06-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610190223/https://film-book.com/infinite-2021-movie-trailer-2-mark-wahlberg-chiwetel-ejiofor-have-been-reincarnated-and-enemies-for-centuries/. live.
  3. News: Szalai. Georg. 2021-07-01. Paramount+ Takes 'Infinite' for International Markets. en-US. The Hollywood Reporter. 2021-07-29.
  4. Web site: Tartaglione. Nancy. 2021-07-01. 'Infinite': Mark Wahlberg Sci-Fi Thriller To Debut On Paramount+ In Streamer's Overseas Markets. 2021-07-29. Deadline. en-US.
  5. Web site: 2021-07-16. Keep it Reel: 'INFINITE'. 2021-07-29. en-US.
  6. Web site: Maikranz . D. Eric . April 6, 2021 . Want To See Your Book Become A Movie? It'll Take Perseverance And Patience. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240329154522/https://blog.bookbaby.com/how-to-self-publish/book-distribution/book-become-a-movie . March 29, 2024 . March 29, 2024 . BookBaby.
  7. Web site: The Black List 2017 Screenplays: Post-WWII Tale 'Ruin' Is No. 1 – Full Rankings . Hipes . Patrick . December 11, 2017 . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20171213020936/http://deadline.com/2017/12/2017-black-list-scripts-ranking-list-screenplays-1202222558/ . December 13, 2017 . live . April 27, 2022.
  8. Web site: Fleming. Mike Jr.. Paramount Buys Ian Shorr Sci-Fi Spec Infinite. March 15, 2017. Deadline. April 23, 2021. April 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210424023459/https://deadline.com/2017/03/paramount-buys-ian-shorr-sci-fi-spec-infinite-1202043941/. live.
  9. Web site: Kit. Borys. Antoine Fuqua in Talks to Direct Immortal Thriller Infinite (Exclusive). November 1, 2018. The Hollywood Reporter. April 23, 2021. April 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210424023503/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/antoine-fuqua-talks-direct-immortal-thriller-infinite-1157276. live.
  10. News: Chris Evans in Talks to Star in Antoine Fuqua's Past-Lives Drama 'Infinite' . McNary . Dave . February 12, 2019 . . September 21, 2019 . September 29, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190929113538/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/chris-evans-antoine-fuqua-infinite-1203137169/ . live .
  11. Web site: Fleming. Mike Jr.. Paramount Taps Chris Evans, Antoine Fuqua For Tentpole Infinite. February 12, 2019. Deadline. April 23, 2021. April 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210424023457/https://deadline.com/2019/02/chris-evans-antoine-fuqua-infinite-the-reincarnationist-papers-paramount-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-avengers-endgame-1202555500/. live.
  12. Web site: Mark Wahlberg In Talks To Replace Chris Evans In Paramount's 'Infinite' . D'Alessandro . Anthony . June 28, 2019 . . September 21, 2019 . June 30, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190630084154/https://deadline.com/2019/06/mark-wahlberg-chris-evans-paramount-infinite-1202639570/ . live .
  13. Web site: Kit. Borys. Mark Wahlberg in Talks to Replace Chris Evans in Antoine Fuqua Thriller Infinite. June 28, 2019. The Hollywood Reporter. April 23, 2021. June 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190628215628/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/mark-wahlberg-replace-chris-evans-antoine-fuquas-infinite-1220120. live.
  14. News: 'Kingsman' Actress Sophie Cookson to Star in 'Infinite' With Mark Wahlberg (EXCLUSIVE) . Kroll . Justin . August 14, 2019 . Variety . September 21, 2019 . September 16, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190916061631/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/sophie-cookson-mark-wahlberg-infinite-1203301884/ . live .
  15. News: Dylan O'Brien to Star Opposite Mark Wahlberg in 'Infinite' (EXCLUSIVE) . Kroll . Justin . August 29, 2019 . Variety . September 21, 2019 . September 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190923152143/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/dylan-obrien-mark-wahlberg-infinite-1203318296/ . live .
  16. News: Chiwetel Ejiofor to Play Villain in Mark Wahlberg Action Thriller 'Infinite' (Exclusive) . Kit . Borys . September 10, 2019 . . September 21, 2019 . September 11, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190911044418/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/chiwetel-ejiofor-play-villain-mark-wahlbergs-infinite-1238681 . live .
  17. Web site: Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson Cast In Paramount's 'Infinite'; Jasper Polish Joins 'Force of Nature' . N'Duka . Amanda . September 10, 2019 . Deadline . September 21, 2019 . September 16, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190916004249/https://deadline.com/2019/09/johannes-haukur-johannesson-paramount-infinite-jasper-polish-force-of-nature-1202730713/ . live .
  18. Web site: Paramount Action Pic 'Infinite' Adds Jason Mantzoukas & Rupert Friend . D'Alessandro . Anthony . September 13, 2019 . Deadline . September 21, 2019 . September 21, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190921012845/https://deadline.com/2019/09/mark-wahlberg-paramount-movie-infinite-adds-jason-mantzoukas-1202733932/ . live .
  19. Web site: Tom Hughes Cast In 'Infinite'; Jasmin Savoy Brown To Star In 'Conductor'; Isabel Arraiza Joins 'The Little Things' . 28 October 2019 . 2019-10-28 . 2019-12-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191212080116/https://deadline.com/2019/10/tom-hughes-infinite-jasmin-savoy-brown-conductor-isabel-arraiza-the-little-things-1202770697/ . live .
  20. News: Mark Wahlberg movie Infinite closes Cardiff road for stunt . BBC News . 21 October 2019 . 2019-10-28 . 2019-10-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191028102711/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-50117698 . live .
  21. Web site: Is filming at Farnborough Airport for new Mark Wahlberg film Infinite? . Phillips . Jamie . September 18, 2019 . September 21, 2019 . September 20, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190920141810/https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/hampshire-news/filming-farnborough-airport-new-mark-16940629 . live .
  22. Web site: The Snow Centre. facebook.com. en. 2019-11-13.
  23. Web site: The Snow Centre. facebook.com. en. 2019-11-13. 2021-06-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20210619042137/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheSnowCentre%2Fposts%2F10157930785922650. live.
  24. News: Paramount Moving Mark Wahlberg-Starrer 'Infinite' To Memorial Day Weekend 2021; Antoine Fuqua & Lorenzo Di Bonaventura Discuss Challenge Of Cutting A Movie In Surreal Moment . Fleming . Mike Jr. . April 14, 2020 . Deadline . April 14, 2020 . April 25, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200425211149/https://deadline.com/2020/04/paramount-releasing-mark-wahlberg-infinite-memorial-day-weekend-2021-antoine-fuqua-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-discuss-1202907865/ . live .
  25. Web site: Infinite (Music from the Motion Picture). Soundtrack.net.
  26. News: Chris Evans' 'Infinite' Gets 2020 Summer Release Date . McNary . Dave . May 8, 2019 . Variety . September 21, 2019 . September 29, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190929113542/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/chris-evans-infinite-release-date-1203209364/ . live .
  27. News: Paramount Moving Mark Wahlberg-Starrer 'Infinite' To Memorial Day Weekend 2021; Antoine Fuqua & Lorenzo Di Bonaventura Discuss Challenge Of Cutting A Movie In Surreal Moment . Fleming . Mike Jr. . April 14, 2020 . Deadline . April 14, 2020 . April 25, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200425211149/https://deadline.com/2020/04/paramount-releasing-mark-wahlberg-infinite-memorial-day-weekend-2021-antoine-fuqua-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-discuss-1202907865/ . live .
  28. Web site: 'A Quiet Place Part II' Moves Yet Again, Now Set For 2021 Memorial Day Weekend . Haring . Bruce . Deadline . 2021-03-04 . 2021-03-04 . 2021-03-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210305084155/https://deadline.com/2021/03/a-quiet-place-part-ii-moves-again-memorial-day-weekend-1234707173/ . live .
  29. Web site: D'Alessandro. Anthony. May 6, 2021. Mark Wahlberg & Antoine Fuqua Sci-Fi Thriller 'Infinite' Skips Theaters & Heads To Paramount+. live. May 6, 2021. Deadline Hollywood. May 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506151846/https://deadline.com/2021/05/mark-wahlberg-movie-infinite-paramount-plus-1234750771/.
  30. Web site: August 19, 2021. Триллер "Бесконечность" с Марком Уолбергом выйдет в России сразу на Paramount+ и Paramount Play. Film.ru. ru.
  31. Infinite (2021) . . m. .
  32. infinite . movie . Infinite Reviews . July 12, 2021.
  33. Web site: Burr . Ty . June 9, 2021 . To 'Infinite' (but not beyond): Mark Wahlberg's new movie is on Paramount+ . June 10, 2021 . . June 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610043928/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/09/arts/infinite-not-beyond-mark-wahlbergs-new-movie-is-paramount/ . live .
  34. Web site: Mark Wahlberg in Antoine Fuqua's 'Infinite': Film Review . June 10, 2021 . David . Rooney . . June 10, 2021 . June 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610093244/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/mark-wahlberg-in-antoine-fuquas-infinite-1234965523/ . live .
  35. Web site: 'Infinite' Review: Mark Wahlberg Reincarnation Thriller Will Leave You With Déjà Vu Screen . June 10, 2021 . Peter . Debruge . . June 10, 2021 . June 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610184339/https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/infinite-review-mark-wahlberg-reincarnation-thriller-will-leave-you-with-deja-vu-1234993310/ . live .
  36. Web site: Movie Media . Infinite is a hitting rock . Movie Media . 2022-06-02 . 2022-06-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220603113533/https://princetv.ga/services/ . dead .
  37. Web site: Burr . Ty . June 9, 2021 . To 'Infinite' (but not beyond): Mark Wahlberg's new movie is on Paramount+ . June 10, 2021 . . June 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610043928/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/09/arts/infinite-not-beyond-mark-wahlbergs-new-movie-is-paramount/ . live .
  38. Web site: Daniels. Robert. June 10, 2021. Infinite review. live. RogerEbert.com. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610191317/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/infinite-movie-review-2021.
  39. Web site: Razzies: Filmed Version of 'Diana' Stage Musical Tops 2022 Nominees. Hilary. Lewis. The Hollywood Reporter. February 7, 2022. February 7, 2022.

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