Robert Pattinson showed his true caliber in Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17, seamlessly shape-shifting between different avatars of Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 with mesmerizing precision. His performance is a masterclass in duality, as each version represents distinct character traits. Here, we break down why Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 have stark differences in their personalities.
Why Are Mickey 17, 18, and Other Prints So Different from Each Other?
The stark differences between Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 highlight a major technological flaw in the human printing machine. Despite its extraordinary technological advancements, the machine fails to replicate human consciousness perfectly. As a result, Mickey Barnes, the “expendable,” finds himself deeply confused in his 17th version when he encounters Mickey 18.
While Mickey 17 is gullible, clumsy, and rather innocent, Mickey 18 is the complete opposite. Unlike his earlier version, 18 is ruthless and determined. He is ready to kill the dictator-like leader, Kenneth Marshall, without hesitation. He also attacks Timo (Steven Yeun), seeing through his snowflake personality.
The stark contrast between 17 and 18 further exposes the failure of the human printing machine. The technology promised to preserve a person’s memory and create an identical copy after death. However, it failed to account for the complexities of the subconscious.
In Joon-ho’s political allegory, the “multiples,” Mickey 17 and 18, also represent the identity crisis of an ordinary man against the powerful authorities. Both Mickey 17 and 18 have distinct identities as the movie established, but in the eyes of Marshall, they are just “multiples.”
The multiple personas of the same character also allow Robert Pattinson to explore the depth of his plight. One version of him thanks the dictator even after being subjected to an experimental dinner that almost killed him. The other version is fierce and ready to uproot the evil as and when necessary.
Both versions of Mickey Barnes ultimately join forces to help the “creepers,” the native creatures of Niflheim. Mickey 18, the more valiant of the two, makes the ultimate sacrifice. In doing so, he eliminates the biggest obstacle for both humans and creepers—the fascist leader, Kenneth Marshall.
Meanwhile, Mickey 17 finds his “happy ending” by destroying the very machine that had condemned him to a life of being an “expendable.”
