WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Don't Look Up, now playing in theaters and streaming on Netflix Dec. 24
Don't Look Up is a movie that confronts a lot of ideas, sometimes to the point of being over-stuffed. But that means many minor layers only reveal themselves upon reflection, especially when regarding characters who never actually meet on screen.
While Don't Look Up largely focuses on the failures of modern culture and the lack of belief in scientific truths, it also highlights the difference between performative faith and genuine faith -- and how they should be used.
The closest thing Don't Look Up has to an active antagonist is President Janie Orlean (Meryl Streep). Obsessed with her polling ahead of the mid-terms over the continued survival of her constituents, Orlean initially brushes off scientists' warnings until she discovers she can be perceived as a hero for stopping the asteroid. But this all goes out the window when Peter Isherwell (Mark Rylance) convinces her that the number of precious metals on the asteroid makes it more important for them to harvest the asteroid instead of simply destroying it. This leads Orlean to champion a new plan -- and when people begin to doubt the asteroid's existence or the continued danger of its approach -- she embraces the "Don't Look Up" philosophy to further her own goals.
The whole situation speaks to Orleans' unstoppable faith in herself and the kind of life she's created for herself. There's a bullheaded shrug with each new bit of information, as Orlean doesn't just ignore indisputable fact but flaunts it. She weaponizes her faith that everything will be fine while having a completely mercenary approach to it, embracing a portion of the public's refusal to believe in the approaching doom. It's this non-stop belief in herself and the inevitability of her victory that largely condemns the Earth, as the second the initial plan is scuttled in search of wealth, the world begins to count down to an inevitable end. Misplaced faith -- and a willingness to manipulate others into doing similar -- is the direct cause that leads to the end of the world in Don't Look Up.
By contrast, Yule (Timothée Chalamet) is perhaps the only genuinely faithful figure in the film. A street-punk who encounters Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) after she's been more or less forced out of the spotlight due to her refusal to follow Orlean's approach to the public, Yule initially seems like a basic skater kid. But he also reveals a deeply personal connection to his faith. Although he doesn't believe in the approach his parents forced on him in his youth, he's since found his own quiet way back to God and prays multiple times openly in Don't Look Up. Notably, in contrast to someone like Orlean railing on people who don't believe as she and her supporters do, Yule is never once pushy about his beliefs.
He prays for himself and defends the decision but is completely unperturbed when others don't. Notably, his belief is never about gaining material wealth or earthly power, but merely a plea to a higher power for forgiveness and love. It's a genuine spiritual connection and one that is ultimately rewarded, albeit in a truly tragic fashion. While Orlean escapes the Earth (without her son) after her faith is proven wrong and the Earth is doomed, she ends up killed on an alien world within moments, a spectacle to the rest of the survivors. Meanwhile, while Yule and the rest of the world die, he is at least together with people he cares about, together and at peace with his final prayer asking for guidance, mercy and love.
It's a subtle difference in the film that the final moment's highlights, focusing on the importance of faith as something deep, personal and thought-over instead of being something to target, elevate and weaponize. It's not something to broadcast and sell people on. As a tool, it only causes widespread chaos and pain. But it can be seen as an acceptance that there are things in the world people can't control and can find peace in the tranquility it can provide.
To see the film's commentary on faith, Don't Look Up is in theaters now and hits Netflix on Dec. 24.