‘Supernova’ Meets Low Expectations

Mon., Feb. 7, 2000

Dave Rinehart, Ferris

I really didn’t expect much. The previews for “Supernova” made it look like the kind of made-for-TV movie played in constant rotation on the Sci-Fi Channel. My hand practically itched to write it off as a D or an F. But, I must admit, it surprised me.

The setting: Nightingale 229, an emergency rescue vessel in outer space. During a period of inactivity, a direct call is suddenly picked up from a lunar mine several million light-years away. This forces the crew of Nightingale to make a dimension jump, during which their pilot is accidentally turned to sushi, forcing co-pilot and recovering drug addict Nick Vanzant (James Spader) to take his chair. Things only get worse when the ship lands on the moon, which is right in the path of a blue giant on the verge of going supernova - space’s most massive explosion.

Oh, and the distress call was sent by a seductive alien half-breed with the potential to destroy humankind. Whoa.

“Supernova” suffers from flaws on several different levels. The direction is shaky and uneven, some of the characters have absolutely no depth, and the overall experience is cheapened by unnecessary sex and nudity.

But the film does have its saving graces, with fantastic special effects and a great performance by Spader, who tries to avert his crew’s, and humankind’s, destruction.

While it does not warrant a hefty ticket purchase, “Supernova” is at least worth the wait for its video release.

Grade: C+

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