In 1977 the Voyager program at NASA first began–and as it set out to explore Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune engineers and other brilliant NASA employees believed that the possibilities of what was to be found in the deep depths of outer space were endless. Now, almost fifty years later, a group of aging engineers are tasked with keeping the project alive–doing all that they can to fight their antiquated equipment on their journey. It’s Quieter in the Twilight depicts this harrowing journey as this team continues one of the world’s greatest explorations of all time.
Harsh fact incoming: It’s Quieter in the Twilight doesn’t do anything to separate itself from the pack, to distinguish itself from the other tens-of-thousands of documentaries out there. It’s rather cut and dry, simplistic, even boring from time to time. I believe that in order to really appreciate It’s Quieter in the Twilight you must have some connection to the science being discussed throughout. Science has never been something that interested me. To a degree I’m able to understand why it appeals to others, but it’s not something that I ever considered an interest of mine. With that, It’s Quieter in the Twilight fails to pique my interest throughout its majority.
It was hard for me to grasp exactly what Voyager means to these individuals, the ones that have been working on it for decades–that is until the final moments of the documentary. As individuals begin to break down, really show emotion, and allow viewers to literally see what the project means to them–I was pulled into It’s Quieter in the Twilight. Is it a good thing that it took nearly an hour and a half for me to appreciate the film? No. But the fact that it was able to reach me at all, that it was finally able to reach out and touch me in a way that made sense is a win nonetheless.
As I previously mentioned, It’s Quieter in the Twilight doesn’t set itself apart from other documentaries–it does nothing to force viewers to want to pay attention (unless you are already in love with the content). It’s sometimes challenging to say outright that a film is boring, but that’s how I felt about It’s Quieter in the Twilight. I struggled to remain focused, I struggled to really care about what was being said–and I imagine that many others will feel the same way that I did while watching. There needed to be something done to make this film pop–and a simple series of interviews isn’t it.
It’s Quieter in the Twilight is a documentary that will appeal to science-minded individuals, as it doesn't’ do anything to reach individuals that don’t typically exist in science-related circles. The film is simple and straightforward, which I commend Director Billy Miossi for doing, because he stays true to the subjects of the film and the Voyager as a result–but for outsiders, this film doesn’t quite hit the mark. I certainly appreciate this groups’ tenacity–but it’s not something that found its footing until the closing minutes (and by that point it was too late). I needed more from the film, but I didn’t get it.
Directed by Billy Miossi.
Starring Andrea Angrum, Todd Barber, Suzanne Dodd, Jefferson Hall, Chris Jones, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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