Swan Song

Apple TV+ | Release Date: December 17, 2021

6.9	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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bertobellamyDec 24, 2021

At first, 'Swan Song' looks like an Apple concept products ad, and then it turns into the usual derivative sci-fi film with a "profound" moral dilemma.

Mahershala Ali — who finally shines in a leading role — plays Cameron, a terminally illAt first, 'Swan Song' looks like an Apple concept products ad, and then it turns into the usual derivative sci-fi film with a "profound" moral dilemma.

Mahershala Ali — who finally shines in a leading role — plays Cameron, a terminally ill man that contemplates the possibility of leaving a clone to live with his family when he's gone.

The premise is cool and all, but the execution is poor. The philosophical, ethical, and moral questions that the protagonist's decision convey are far from being explored here. Apart from Ali, the only other interesting character is his wife, played by Naomie Harris. Glenn Close and Awkwafina are completely irrelevant.

The film tries to go into 'Blade Runner' — there's even an origami moment! — and 'Ex-Machina' territory, but it all just stays on the surface.

Like 'Finch' and 'Foundation', the recent sci-fi Apple projects pretend to ask difficult questions about being human, but almost everything in them looks fake and very calculated. Hope they would take more risks in the future.… Expand

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FadeBlackJan 26, 2022

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

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JLuis_001Dec 21, 2021

The issues this film raises when you have a theme that proposes the power to negotiate with death and your acceptance of it, you really need to have convincing arguments so that the plot doesn't feel like a sloppy attempt at science fiction.The issues this film raises when you have a theme that proposes the power to negotiate with death and your acceptance of it, you really need to have convincing arguments so that the plot doesn't feel like a sloppy attempt at science fiction.

Swan Song confronts rather complex existential questions ranging from identity, integrity, grief, guilt and lying.
The latter is handled with the idea that it's for a good, and yet it also provokes many questions about trust between the ones you love.

Its handling, ultimately, is not the best. At one point, after the second act, the film stalls in its inability to deliver a more agile narrative, but good performances keep it sufficiently focused.

Naomie Harris and even Awkwafina herself stand out, but the star is Mahershala Ali, as it is his character who goes through all the dramatic ups and downs the story has to offer.

Swan Song is nothing exceptional, but it was much better than I initially expected.… Expand

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