3 out of 5

Directed by: Michael and Peter Spierig

If watched as a mind-screwy twist-turner time-travel sci-fi piece… ‘Predestination’ somewhat fails.  Anyone familiar with the general design of keeping characters in shadow or obviously withheld details will be able to call out said ‘twists’ well before they’re revealed.  However, it is very much to the credit of the writers / directors Michael and Peter Spierig and some well-nuanced performances by Sarah Snook and Ethan Hawke that ‘Predestination’ is still a very satisfying and interesting film.  By staying so closely rooted to the Heinlein source material – a writer more invested in the speculation and commentary aspects of sci-fi than just trying to catch the reader out – the movie ticks along so comfortable with itself, and so assured of its reveals that you don’t mind that you know what’s coming.  As part of that written word origin, ‘Predestination’ also unfolds almost shockingly organically, with a man walking into a bar and telling a story, and at about the midway point, it dawns on you that, despite the period staging (mostly from the 40s and 60s), you are, indeed, watching a science fiction movie.  This is so varied from the usual forced shocks / genre trappings of traditional film that it only adds to the movie’s charm.  Despite the general predictableness of how and why things are happening, saying too much about the plot is still a disservice to the viewer; you know there’s time travel, and it’s clear from the opening scene that there’s a chase happening across time, and this story being told in the bar will eventually fill in the Whys.  The acting can feel a bit staged at moments, and the sets – though well designed – are very clearly designed.  But because the tone is consistent, and the Spierigs never overreach with what they want to show on screen, it never feels out of place.  Overall, it’s hard to be wowed by ‘Predestination’ because it doesn’t exactly break new ground on time-travel twists.  However, it is a very well designed and intentioned piece of film-making that makes you feel like you’ve spent your 90 minutes of viewing time well.