“Atropia,” Hailey Gates’s latest project, attempts to juggle several ideas—a critique of filmmaking practices, an examination of the military-industrial complex, and a look at where acting and reality intersect—but ultimately buckles under its own lofty goals. Although it starts with a promising concept, the film falters, resulting in a self-important and draining viewing experience that strains for cleverness without truly achieving it. Fayruz, portrayed by Alia Shawkat, is an actress hoping to advance her career when she’s chosen as the lead in a strange military simulation center where actors train soldiers through simulated combat scenarios. The arrival of Abu Dice (Callum Turner), a soldier who has become an actor for hire, creates unexpected chemistry. An unplanned romantic connection between Fayruz and Abu jeopardizes the immersive war games. The idea behind the film seems initially like a unique and dreamlike environment that could be used to make pointed observations, but it doesn’t quite come together. The screenplay draws inspiration from actual U.S. military training facilities—a genuinely fascinating detail—but the disorganized storytelling leads to jarring shifts in tone. Moments intended to be darkly humorous often fall flat, and the central romance detracts from any substantial commentary. Compounding these issues is a sense of being disjointed and overly pleased with itself, frequently speaking down to viewers through jokes that don’t quite connect. Despite “Atropia”'s efforts to present something new and inventive, it ultimately feels overstuffed and wearying. With more careful editing and a clearer direction, the film could have possibly discovered its purpose. It’s disappointing that the movie is too preoccupied with appearing intelligent to recognize how alienating it becomes.

Source on TMDB