Sometimes, when an actor isn’t given much in the way of dialog or plot to work with, they have to resort to other tools: a coy look, a reaction face, body language. If those actors are X-Men, like the ones in Dark Phoenix, they have another weapon at their disposal—hand gestures.
Yes, hand gestures. The perfect execution of superpowers is a thing of beauty, and while the story of Dark Phoenix is so thin/predictable it’s almost laughable, the cast makes it work by executing all of those mutant powers with a flourish reminiscent of the legends of the silent film era.
This impressive hand work is most apparent in the Dark Phoenix herself. As Jean Grey, Sophie Turner is a woman on a journey of self-discovery, learning the strength of her powers but mostly learning the proper motions with which to use them. Behold the upturned palm and curled digit as she ascends goddess-like above her adversaries! Marvel at the outstretched arms and claw-like grip she employs to control the telekinetic energy coursing through her veins! This isn’t a woman finding her superpower, it is a hero discharging her energy with the precision of Beyoncé dancing.
Jean doesn’t start out precise, though. Her story, as it has been for decades, is one of a mutant struggling to channel her abilities and not hurt anyone in the process. In this, she has help. Early in Dark Phoenix she visits the true manus master: Magneto. Michael Fassbender has been doing this gig for years as both the metal-contorting Erik Lahnsherr and in Ridley Scott’s Alien prequels, where his artificially intelligent character David had to be so robotic he could only emote his true rage through the occasional facial tick. Naturally, when this veteran meets Jean Grey it is a thing to behold. Without giving away too much, they face off in an epic showdown, both using their powers to try to control a helicopter (it makes sense in the movie, promise) and, reader, I wept. Magneto, neck taut, expertly splays his fingers and manipulates the chopper with two rigid, reaching hands. Jean, watching and learning, does the same with a few magician-like arm waves. Also, note the elegance of the palm rotation. It is the moment the audience knows she has arrived.
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