The Most Unknown

Name: The Most Unknown
Genre: Documentary
Released: May 18, 2018
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 59
Cast: Jennifer L. Macalady, Rachel L Smith

2018

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Mixed or average reviews based on 5 Critic Reviews

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Ratings

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The Most Unknown

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Movie Details & Credits

Abramorama | Release Date: May 18, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Jennifer L. Macalady, Rachel L Smith

Summary: The Most Unknown is an epic documentary film that sends nine scientists to extraordinary parts of the world to uncover unexpected answers to some of humanity’s biggest questions. How did life begin? What is time? What is consciousness? How much do we really know? By introducing researchers from diverse backgrounds for the first time, thenThe Most Unknown is an epic documentary film that sends nine scientists to extraordinary parts of the world to uncover unexpected answers to some of humanity’s biggest questions. How did life begin? What is time? What is consciousness? How much do we really know? By introducing researchers from diverse backgrounds for the first time, then dropping them into new, immersive field work they previously hadn’t tackled, the film reveals the true potential of interdisciplinary collaboration, pushing the boundaries of how science storytelling is approached. What emerges is a deeply human trip to the foundations of discovery and a powerful reminder that the unanswered questions are the most crucial ones to pose.… Expand

Director: Ian Cheney

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 88 min

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Critic Reviews

Movie Nation Roger Moore

May 10, 2018

Whatever the intent of Ian Cheney’s film, at its best it humanizes a class of people being demonized in America’s virulent outbreak of Know-Nothingism. These are smart, funny and charming worker bees with limits to their knowledge, just like the rest of us. Read full review

Robert Abele

May 24, 2018

With its gorgeous photography, charismatic participants and unabashed love for discovery, The Most Unknown feels like a science documentary cross-fertilized with that sentimental old Coke commercial — the smartest among us holding hands across the globe, charting our universe in happy harmony. Read full review

Daphne Howland

May 16, 2018

Much of the film is beautiful — hot springs, the ocean’s depths, and deep space are photogenic — although Cheney preserves a few too many mundane “hello, how do you do”s, and the science isn’t deeply explained. Read full review

Ken Jaworowski

May 17, 2018

The Most Unknown works best as inspiration to delve deeper into these disciplines, and as a celebration of science. And when the film comes up short, it still functions like an intriguing experiment: It doesn’t have to be entirely successful for you to learn something. Read full review

John DeFore

May 17, 2018

With so many discussions to drop in on, each with its own stuff to show off...each sequence can only hint at what's fascinating about its field. Read full review

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JLuis_001

Aug 17, 2018

Recently I've been reading about the chronology of the distant future. The distant future of humanity and of the universe and I'm not talking about thousands of years into the future, but billions of years into the future.

Obviously all of this are theories based on equations and deductionsRecently I've been reading about the chronology of the distant future. The distant future of humanity and of the universe and I'm not talking about thousands of years into the future, but billions of years into the future.

Obviously all of this are theories based on equations and deductions from fields such as that of astrophysics and the truth is that it gives you enough to think about even taking into account that our lives, our bones and civilization will not even be dust at that point in time.

Watching this documentary only made me think more about it and not because it has to do with what I was reading but because of the amount of knowledge that we are still discovering, and it's clear that we still need to discover a lot. I cannot even begin to fathom what humanity will learn in the centuries to come.

It definitely makes you feel really small, but that's not bad because I've realized that this is precisely how we should feel. The magnitude of what surrounds us is immeasurable.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MeritCoba

Aug 18, 2018

I have no doubt that this movie is made with good intentions, but I cannot but help to be irked by it. More of that later. Let's first go to the title.

'The most unknown' might make you think that this is about that what scientists do not know (yet), but it is also about the scientistsI have no doubt that this movie is made with good intentions, but I cannot but help to be irked by it. More of that later. Let's first go to the title.

'The most unknown' might make you think that this is about that what scientists do not know (yet), but it is also about the scientists themselves. That in the US science is under attack from religious groups is evident. There is a strong suspicion that the scientists all belong to a nefarious society whose purpose is to ridicule that what is ridiculous. If you believe that the planet is 6000 years old, flat and ruled over by an invisible all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good being that has a plan that is unalterable but you pray to it so it changes its plan for your personally and you get told that the nonsense you believe in doesn't sit well with any scientific research or logic, you can either adapt, ignore it or do away with it. Since the first is undesirable and the second doesn't work, the latter is what remains.
Hence the extreme religious groups influence politics to have their view imposed or, lacking that, at least push back the influence of science that contradicts their religious views.

Queue for this movie that introduces us to science as much as their scientists. And so we get to see is all the areas where the friction between religious convictions and science is the most obvious; the origin of life, the universe, the planet. And we get nothing on anything else.

It also introduces us to nine scientists of which about six are native English speakers and five of them are Americans. The suggestion is clear. Look at all these nice American scientists, see they are not nasty evil people, but funny and cute and dedicated. And mostly American. What is irksome is that five out of nine scientists are portrayed as American scientists. And if you allow for those that are English native speakers or working in the US the number goes up to seven. Reality begs to differ. The US is a strong dominating force, but the reality is that 3 out of 9 are perhaps US born, whole 1 of 9 might be a non-Us born scientist working for an US university. Making 5 out of 9 for the rest of the world who work elsewhere and 6 out of 9 a Non-American. And this number is changing rapidly.

This documentary is neither about science or the scientists. It is a piece of propaganda that is to tell the American audience that (American) scientists are mostly harmless. As if that is going to work.… Expand

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