Swan Song

Name: Swan Song
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama
Released: December 17, 2021
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Adam Beach, Awkwafina, Dax Rey, Glenn Close, Jayr Tinaco

2021

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Apple TV+ | Release Date: December 17, 2021 | R

Starring: Adam Beach, Awkwafina, Dax Rey, Glenn Close, Jayr Tinaco, Lee Shorten, Luke Camilleri, Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Nyasha Hatendi

Summary: In the near future, Cameron Turner (Mahershala Ali), a loving husband and father diagnosed with a terminal illness, is presented with an alternative solution by his doctor (Glenn Close) to shield his family from grief. As Cam grapples with whether or not to alter his family’s fate, he learns more about life and love than he ever imagined.

Director: Benjamin Cleary

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 116 min

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Critic Reviews

100

G. Allen Johnson

Dec 17, 2021

Swan Song, of course, belongs to Ali. He conveys Cameron’s vise grip of moral dilemma, fear of dying and concern for his family visually, often wordlessly, and it is a complex, layered performance. Let’s just say this is an unusual way to confront your inner demons. Read full review

Tara Brady

Dec 17, 2021

Mirrored and paired scenes abound in Cleary’s clever screenplay. Read full review

The Observer (UK) Wendy Ide

Dec 21, 2021

Ali is tremendous in a dual role that takes in everything from a beguiling meet-cute with his future wife (Naomie Harris) to a third act consumed by grief and doubt about whether he did the best thing for his family after all. Read full review

Screen Rant Ferdosa Abdi

Dec 22, 2021

Swan Song is a respectable science-fiction drama. While it may feel overwrought and overly sentimental in parts, the film is immersive and engaging. Ali is magnetic and his natural onscreen charisma, paired with a terrific performance, make Swan Song an absolute must-see. Read full review

Leah Greenblatt

Dec 21, 2021

Without much dramatic tension beyond the will-he-or-won't-he of Cameron's final choice, the film feels oddly inert, a melancholic iPhone ad stretched to feature-length. Read full review

The Independent Clarisse Loughrey

Dec 16, 2021

The film’s most interesting onscreen partnership is Ali and, well, Ali. He essentially delivers the same performance twice, but with variations so minute that you’re left to wonder whether you simply imagined them. Read full review

Cassie da Costa

Dec 27, 2021

Ali, in his first lead role, is let down with a hollow script and sanitized surroundings that his character barely struggles against. Read full review

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User Reviews

HerickDiener

Dec 19, 2021

"Swan Song" é o meu tipo favorito de filme. Aquele que nos faz pensar a respeito de uma realidade diferente e distante, mesmo que ela seja dolorosa.

Mahershala Ali está fenomenal. É difícil assistir a um de seus filmes e conseguir imaginar outra pessoa para interpretar seu papel. Ele o"Swan Song" é o meu tipo favorito de filme. Aquele que nos faz pensar a respeito de uma realidade diferente e distante, mesmo que ela seja dolorosa.

Mahershala Ali está fenomenal. É difícil assistir a um de seus filmes e conseguir imaginar outra pessoa para interpretar seu papel. Ele o agarra e ninguém tira.

Durante os momentos de dúvida do personagem o filme se estica mais do que necessário. Enquanto sua parte final conta com duas cenas que cairiam como uma luva para encerrar o filme. Eu teria deixado apenas uma. Mas os pontos supracitados não borram a boa experiência que a trama nos deixa.

E Glenn Close... você é a maior. Entenda.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

CLAYTAYLOR21

Dec 28, 2021

Swan Song, a film that unfortunately doesn't seem to be getting the buzz it deserves, poses ethical quandaries that are important to consider as technology continues to evolve. The main character, played be Mahershala Ali, is faced with many of these questions as he tries to make anSwan Song, a film that unfortunately doesn't seem to be getting the buzz it deserves, poses ethical quandaries that are important to consider as technology continues to evolve. The main character, played be Mahershala Ali, is faced with many of these questions as he tries to make an impossible decision. While all of the acting is wonderful, the standout performance is easily that of Ali, who brings the character of Cameron Turner to life and makes all of the key moments extremely emotional. This is especially true of the climax, which brought me to tears. I do think that this event could have worked even better if Cameron hadn't yet made up his mind, but it was still one of the most impactful scenes I've seen in a movie this year. Swan Song is also beautifully shot as it showcases natural landscapes as well as futuristic technology. My only major flaw with the film is that there was one character whose inclusion to the story felt unnecessary and didn't exactly match the tone, but this character's presence was minor, so it wasn't too big of a game changer for me.
Swan Song is an emotional character study that will leave viewers asking themselves questions about what they would do if they found themself in Cameron's position.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MATPW

Feb 6, 2022

Exceptional orchestration of story, cinematography, musical score, sound, directing, and acting. The Cast - represents the origins of Africa, Europe, Asia, and the First American Nations. Poignant, soothing, warm, funny, and awe-inspiring Lovely locations for filming.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Brent_Marchant

Dec 18, 2021

The inevitability of death -- and the effort to manage (possibly even forestall) the fallout that comes in its wake -- is a serious matter for us all, one that truly deserves profound contemplation, the kind that's rarely seen in the movies. But that's where writer-director Benjamin Cleary'sThe inevitability of death -- and the effort to manage (possibly even forestall) the fallout that comes in its wake -- is a serious matter for us all, one that truly deserves profound contemplation, the kind that's rarely seen in the movies. But that's where writer-director Benjamin Cleary's debut feature "Swan Song" steps forward. This moving sci-fi offering about a young husband and father facing a premature death, and a provocative solution to ease the blow on his uninformed surviving family members, poses a variety of deep questions and an array of moral dilemmas for a man who wants to do right but is unsure how to handle his circumstances. While the film suffers from some occasional pacing issues in the first half, it nevertheless delivers a number of affecting moments as the picture moves toward its heart-tugging conclusion, providing touching dramatic moments not often seen in films of this genre. The picture's gorgeous cinematography and clever special effects add elements of beauty and whimsy to the powerhouse performances of its superb cast, most notably that of Golden Globe Award nominee Mahershala Ali, who turns in yet another dynamite portrayal, easily one of the best male lead roles of the year. "Swan Song" may not make for light, fluffy fare, but it certainly is one of the most thought-provoking and important films of 2021.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

r96sk

Feb 15, 2022

'Swan Song' doesn't dig as deep as I thought it might have, though it is still a film I found to be intriguing.

It has a fab cast list, with Mahershala Ali producing the goods in the lead role. Naomie Harris, Awkwafina, Glenn Close and Adam Beach also feature. I kinda feel like I wanted to'Swan Song' doesn't dig as deep as I thought it might have, though it is still a film I found to be intriguing.

It has a fab cast list, with Mahershala Ali producing the goods in the lead role. Naomie Harris, Awkwafina, Glenn Close and Adam Beach also feature. I kinda feel like I wanted to see more of them, though that could just be as actors - rather than their characters, who are shown enough.

This 2021 film holds a lot of heart so it's difficult not to attach yourself to the story, in that regard I particularly enjoyed the ending. It's a slow burn but never drags. 3* for me, it's worth a sit through I'd say.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

FadeBlack

Jan 26, 2022

Decent performances and interesting concept, but the plot choices rob it out of anything memorable.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Mauro_Lanari

Dec 19, 2021

(Mauro Lanari)
A scifi moral dilemma cannot be a thought-provoking drama, precisely because it belongs to a too distant future that most likely none of us will have the opportunity to live. So it's a functional film to redirect our attention away from the real problems here and now, or here(Mauro Lanari)
A scifi moral dilemma cannot be a thought-provoking drama, precisely because it belongs to a too distant future that most likely none of us will have the opportunity to live. So it's a functional film to redirect our attention away from the real problems here and now, or here and since ever, and that's one of the primary purposes of the multinationals (in this case Apple) that produce such diversions. And the extent of their appreciation indicates the degree of effectiveness of this strategy. By the way: if I really had a clone, I would try to see if we can be useful to understand each other better, "Swang Song" has some moments like that and they are the only exciting ones. Ps: Radiohead once again in the score and always with the same two tracks?… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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