Mel Eslyn has served as president of Duplass Brothers Productions since 2017. She’s had an understanding with Mark Duplass that, when she made her directorial feature debut, it had to be “the one.”
Now, her time has come, with Eslyn serving as director, co-writer and producer on the new sci-fi black comedy film, “Biosphere,” which at first glance has all the elements of a comedic hangout movie — with a dystopian touch of the end of the world.
Written, produced and starring Mark Duplass alongside his sole co-star Sterling K. Brown, “Biosphere” follows the final two remaining individuals in a claustrophobic man-made dome. Once the only female fish in a pond dies, the two men are left grappling with the notion that they will no longer have food to sustain themselves.
Eslyn recalls the film’s conception: “The first thing Mark pitched me was that the last two men on earth...
Now, her time has come, with Eslyn serving as director, co-writer and producer on the new sci-fi black comedy film, “Biosphere,” which at first glance has all the elements of a comedic hangout movie — with a dystopian touch of the end of the world.
Written, produced and starring Mark Duplass alongside his sole co-star Sterling K. Brown, “Biosphere” follows the final two remaining individuals in a claustrophobic man-made dome. Once the only female fish in a pond dies, the two men are left grappling with the notion that they will no longer have food to sustain themselves.
Eslyn recalls the film’s conception: “The first thing Mark pitched me was that the last two men on earth...
- 7/14/2023
- by Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
In the diverse annals of survivalist cinema, one lesson is clear: Death is surely preferable to an eternity (or even 95 minutes) spent trapped with the inimitable duo of Pauly Shore and Stephen Baldwin in 1996’s “Bio-Dome.” By contrast, the dystopian-future-style living is pretty easy to take in “Biosphere,” given the more amiable company of stars Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass. They play besties stuck for the long haul in a self-sustaining habitat after some murky catastrophe has rendered the world outside lethal.
This first directorial feature for producer Mel Eslyn (who co-wrote with Duplass) is a somewhat uneven construct that at times threatens to exhaust its bro-comedy goodwill. But ultimately the performers are winning enough, and the ideas in the ambiguous story intriguing enough, to achieve an end result of successful middleweight charm and substance.
We never do find out the cause or nature of the environmental apocalypse that...
This first directorial feature for producer Mel Eslyn (who co-wrote with Duplass) is a somewhat uneven construct that at times threatens to exhaust its bro-comedy goodwill. But ultimately the performers are winning enough, and the ideas in the ambiguous story intriguing enough, to achieve an end result of successful middleweight charm and substance.
We never do find out the cause or nature of the environmental apocalypse that...
- 7/7/2023
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
Biosphere feels like a movie Mark Duplass was born to lead. Small sci-fi with a provocative twist. One location, two characters, and a lot of talking. This is one of the pioneers behind the mumblecore subgenre, after all. Most of it works, and some it works really well. Written by Duplass and Mel Eslyn, with Eslyn directing (a longtime producer making her feature directorial debut), it stars Duplass and Sterling K. Brown as the last two living human beings on Earth.
They’re immediately faced with a mortal dilemma: their last female fish has died, spelling an imminent end to their sole supply of food within their tiny biosphere. Only two males remain. It’s a nifty open (preceded by a somewhat-too-cute discussion on Super Mario Bros.) that sets the stakes high. Ray (Brown) is a capable scientist. Billy (Duplass) is decidedly not a capable scientist who may (?) be the...
They’re immediately faced with a mortal dilemma: their last female fish has died, spelling an imminent end to their sole supply of food within their tiny biosphere. Only two males remain. It’s a nifty open (preceded by a somewhat-too-cute discussion on Super Mario Bros.) that sets the stakes high. Ray (Brown) is a capable scientist. Billy (Duplass) is decidedly not a capable scientist who may (?) be the...
- 7/5/2023
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
Turns out love and hookup seekers aren’t the only ones who fib online. In the winning indie rom-com “7 Days,” two mothers gin up glowing profiles for their children on an Indian marriage website. After a decidedly arid date at a drought-dried reservoir, Ravi and Rita wind up at her rental home. Each of them stands within feet of the other, on the phone reporting how brilliantly the date went to their inquisitive mothers. It comes as no surprise (romantic comedy or otherwise) that when Ravi meets Rita, the two realize quickly that maintaining those lies isn’t worth it. At least, keeping up the ruse between them isn’t sustainable.
Karan Soni portrays Ravi, a guy who has many of the qualities his mother touted: a good cook, very bright, loyal and youngest of three boys, but in a combination that makes for a spectacularly uptight mama’s boy.
Karan Soni portrays Ravi, a guy who has many of the qualities his mother touted: a good cook, very bright, loyal and youngest of three boys, but in a combination that makes for a spectacularly uptight mama’s boy.
- 7/1/2021
- by Lisa Kennedy
- Variety Film + TV
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