But with a Whimper, that is how the world ends" So wrote TS Eliot. Spoiler Alert, some plot points revealed. I have seen many of the, "End of the World" scenarios played out, of late. This one takes a more intimate approach then many, closer in spirit to movies like, "Melancholia" which only hinted at the global repercussions. Three or more couples, journey to meet their fate. The cutting from past to present,to a possible future, is done seemingly randomly, As is the mixing and interweaving of each couples background recollections. It's all here folks, the love and the tears, the hopes and the fears, only in the end to seem pathetic and meaningless. with the exception of the little girl shot, which if showing the future offers the possibility of redemption. Ultimately it did get wearisome, toward the end, even all the passionate embraces could not enliven. I am grateful for these independent films to hire senior actors,and younger actors too. There were a few touching moments, scenes well played, I liked the soap label scene, having had personally met Dr Bronner, of the "All One" persuasion. I thought the "sick boy" parable was creditable.I suppose my biggest objection with, "Parts in a Billion" was the seeming haphazard editing. For example; We see a nurses body, and then we flashback to get the story of the nurse. Things like that made the events anti climatic. Not a good story telling device. The actors took their parts in earnest, the film was capably shot, with good production values, The music was marginal, pared down to suit the action. last word, Yeah, it was a depressingly serious little movie.
... View MoreSo this takes place in an alternate Earth where the prevailing winds over the Atlantic blow from east to west. As a consequence, some terrible bioweapon blows all over the United States from the Middle East, and 3 couples try to use the power of love... or something. Apparently love doesn't conquer all, as all 3 couples give up and presumably succumb to the mysterious pandemic.Props to the director for filming in Detroit, which already looks like an apocalyptic wasteland. Wonder if the bodies in the street were extras or if the crew found them there?You would be better served by reading the label from a bottle of Dr. Bronner's soap (the one that the characters read from - "Dilute! Dilute! OK!"). It's much more interesting, entertaining, and enlightening.
... View MoreA film I couldn't wait to end it was so slow and non eventful. The script was minimal,there were no noticeable transitions to the flashbacks and most of the characters acted as if they had no idea what was happening.This was an example of good well known actors roped into what was supposed to be a modern day version of On the Beach, but without any of the tension, dialog and story. Rather than engaging in pointless flashbacks, more attention should have been paid to the worldwide disaster unfolding.Parts Per Billion illustrates why many low budget films never get shown widely...the script was lousy and production values mediocre.
... View More"Nothing is left. The radio stopped. There's no more planes or helicopters. When's the last time we heard anything other then birds?" After a man made virus escapes the entire world is threatened. The fast moving and fast acting bug is bringing about the end of the world with no hope for a cure. Three couples each deal with it in their own way. Even though their stories and experiences are different they realize that life revolves around one thing, love. For some reason ideas and plots for movies seem to come in clumps and no matter what they get made back to back to back. Armageddon and Deep Impact came out very close together. So did Volcano & Dante's Peak, Olympus Has Fallen & White House Down, and Legend Of Hercules and soon Hercules. This movie is part of the new up and coming trend, movies about a man made virus that causes the apocalypse. Contagion, It's A Disaster, Goodbye World and the more recent ones just to name a few. All of them have their good qualities but like so many copy cat movies they are never as good as the original. This one is no exception. Overall, good movie with a very good cast but it is very depressing so you must be in the mood for it. Not as good as Contagion. I give this a B-.
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