Rosamund Pike stuns as scientist Marie Curie in the structurally-challenged Radioactive that overcomes uneven storytelling for a fascinating look at the subject’s genius. Take a look at Joe Peltzer’s Radioactive Review.
Grounded in the late 1800s/early 1900s, the film follows Marie Curie (Rosamund Pike) as she discovers the radioactivity of elements and their possible uses in medicine, leading to many lives saved.
The story of discovery is interwoven with future snapshots in time, from radiation therapy to Hiroshima, even Chernobyl, showing the implications (both good and bad) of Curie’s discoveries.
The pacing of Radioactive is fast, reducing Curie’s entire life to one film that often makes you wonder what year you’re supposed to be seeing.
But director Marjane Satrapi allows Pike to shine, highlighting the great successes Curie had, but also honing in on the unknown costs of said successes.
I truly believe that this is one of Pike’s best performances; I would love to see her nominated for an Oscar as a result of this role.
For all of the challenges with the film’s script, Pike’s performance ropes you in and distracts you from all that may not be up to snuff.
One can’t help but think that this would have played out better over the course of a limited series, allowing time to explore the many layers of Curie’s life more thoroughly.
While that’s not the case here, we do get a beautiful tribute to a true pioneer in science whose impacts can be felt to this very day.
Radioactive Review by Joe Peltzer
Our Rating
Summary
Rosamund Pike’s dynamic, Oscar-worthy performance is enough to elevate an otherwise mediocre film.
