The Heavens Open Up in Brilliant IMAX Presentation of 'Deep Sky'

In IMAX Theaters April 19, 2024

Audiences don't often pay attention to documentary short films until they are nominated for the Academy Award. Usually, these movies debut at film festivals worldwide to very little fanfare, and many Oscar pundits discuss them in great detail come March every year. If it weren't for the most distinguished awards ceremony in Hollywood, would non-features ever get covered by the mass media?

One film that stands out from the rest is the latest IMAX gem, "Deep Sky." Helmed by Nathaniel Kahn ("My Architect"), this visual extravaganza transports viewers to the depths of space aboard NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). JWST, a scientific and technical marvel, has been capturing awe-inspiring images of space since its launch in 2021.

"Deep Sky" is narrated by Academy Award-nominee Michelle Williams, though I assure you her work here is starkly different than her narration of Britney Spears' recent blockbuster memoir. Here, Williams uses her dulcet tones to introduce audiences to the telescope, starting with its development in 2016, through its launch into outer space on Christmas Day 2021 in French Guiana, to the stunning pictures billions of people have now witnessed of various galaxies and cosmic collisions that give new meaning to unanswered questions plaguing scientists for millennia.

At a running time of about 40 minutes, the movie is reason enough for everyday Americans to leave their homes and catch an IMAX showing in all its glory. JWST is the culmination of work from 10,000 people and 14 countries, accounting for the telescope's complexity of unfolding and moving about space. Scientists have now proven what other telescopes have tried to confirm in previous decades with enhanced images that answer the ultimate questions of the universe: who are we, and where did we come from?

But "Deep Sky" isn't just a modern-day history lesson; the film reflects the diligent work performed by these scientists, and many of them still show enthusiasm for the numerous discoveries made due to JWST's short time in space. The telescope stares into empty space one million miles from Earth, hoping to capture images, the first of which beamed back to Earth roughly six months after its launch. In one picture, brilliantly displayed in wondrous and vibrant colors within the film, experts pinpoint groups of galaxies and stars born over 13 billion years ago.

The ultimate conclusion to "Deep Sky" is that it is statistically evident we are not alone. Earth and our own galaxy are amongst trillions of galaxies living in deep space. Kahn's animated reconstructions and heightened imagery help to make the film a more profound experience within an IMAX capacity. It's a grand spectacle of a movie that significantly compliments its marvelous subject matter.

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