Children of Men (B or 3/4 stars)
Engagingly bleak is a phrase that describes 'Children of Men', a sci-fi drama written by Timothy J. Sexton & Alfonso Cuaron, and is directed by Cuaron, as well. Cuaron creates a scarily realistic dystopia where, in 2027, all humans are infertile. The youngest person alive, 18 yr. old Baby Diego has just died, and the world is succumbing to a fate of repression, violence & certain death. Theo (Clive Owen) & Julian (Julianne Moore) are given a small chance to change the course of the future when they discover & protect Kee (Claire-Hope Ashitey), a woman who is miraculously pregnant. Visually & stylistically, this film is superb. But even though the ending is ambiguously optimistic, the whole of the movie is so overwhelmingly bleak that is prevents me from outright loving it.
By 2009, infertility had stricken the world's population; and no explanation is offered. From this devastation came famine, drought, mass immigration, mass death, destruction, & political upheavles. Everyone is a target of terrorists and authoritarians alike; Kee is no different. Theo and Julian attempt to get Kee to a boat that houses 'The Human Project' (assumingly, a group of scientists who can mold new human beings for a better 'Tomorrow'). She's the 'key' to the future of mankind. But they'll have to skirt many dangers and much resistance as they go from safe house to safe house, town to town, til they reach their destination.
Cuaron's future is spellbindingly dark, cold, barren, & hopeless. Everything is in disarray; grimy, indigent. No one is safe, no one is happy, all life revolves around chaotic violence. Rebels fight the immigrants (called 'Fugees'); and the government fights its' civilians. My eyes could not be drawn from the screen. But many questions arise: Why had this all started? Why did infertility set in? How'd Kee get pregnant? Why are Theo and Julian risking 'their' lives for this girl? Will Kee get on the boat that promises safety? Do we know the boat is any good? What happens on the boat? Why do so many of the film's protagonists fall by the wayside? What's the purpose in that? If she gives birth to a healthy child, won't the violence continue for at least another 14-15 yrs. til another 'miracle' baby is of age to procreate? Won't England (the only surviving nation left on Earth) implode from within by that time? Is it pointless to have faith in anything?
I appreciate and marvel at the 'concepts' brought up in 'Children of Men', but those concepts never really materialize. What we get instead is an action movie (multiple car chases, oodles of violence) where persons A & B goes from point A to point B, to C to D, to E to F, etc. Sprinkled throughout are some dramatic & comedic moments, but not much of a story actually unfolds. Kee sees the boat & I anticipated an intermission; an interlude between Acts 2 & 3, so to speak. Instead, the credits rolled! Wouldn't it be more interesting to see what happens to Kee, rather than her dodgy journey 'to' the boat? THAT'S the movie I thought I was coming to see in the first place. I wanted to see more of the fantastic dystopic world that Cuaron created. But also to have some answers (just some) to the plethora of questions I posed in the previous paragraph.
The acting here is solid (including a needed comedic turn by Michael Caine). But I was mainly emotionally detached because of the gloomy, depressing overall effect of the film. Positives? I commend Alfonso Cuaron for tackling (what must be) an intriguing book. And most of the cinematography & action is stunning! Some scenes are outright incredible (i.e., when blood spurts on a lens for the duration of one scene and we feel like the blood is on us!) There is so much to praise here, but I just didn't 'enjoy' it like I thought I would. I anticipated something more intellectual. The weighty socio-political concepts & topics that are touched upon in this film are great. But even though the gritty setting for those 'topics' is amazing ... a straightforward, shallower plot plays out for the remainder.
By 2009, infertility had stricken the world's population; and no explanation is offered. From this devastation came famine, drought, mass immigration, mass death, destruction, & political upheavles. Everyone is a target of terrorists and authoritarians alike; Kee is no different. Theo and Julian attempt to get Kee to a boat that houses 'The Human Project' (assumingly, a group of scientists who can mold new human beings for a better 'Tomorrow'). She's the 'key' to the future of mankind. But they'll have to skirt many dangers and much resistance as they go from safe house to safe house, town to town, til they reach their destination.
Cuaron's future is spellbindingly dark, cold, barren, & hopeless. Everything is in disarray; grimy, indigent. No one is safe, no one is happy, all life revolves around chaotic violence. Rebels fight the immigrants (called 'Fugees'); and the government fights its' civilians. My eyes could not be drawn from the screen. But many questions arise: Why had this all started? Why did infertility set in? How'd Kee get pregnant? Why are Theo and Julian risking 'their' lives for this girl? Will Kee get on the boat that promises safety? Do we know the boat is any good? What happens on the boat? Why do so many of the film's protagonists fall by the wayside? What's the purpose in that? If she gives birth to a healthy child, won't the violence continue for at least another 14-15 yrs. til another 'miracle' baby is of age to procreate? Won't England (the only surviving nation left on Earth) implode from within by that time? Is it pointless to have faith in anything?
I appreciate and marvel at the 'concepts' brought up in 'Children of Men', but those concepts never really materialize. What we get instead is an action movie (multiple car chases, oodles of violence) where persons A & B goes from point A to point B, to C to D, to E to F, etc. Sprinkled throughout are some dramatic & comedic moments, but not much of a story actually unfolds. Kee sees the boat & I anticipated an intermission; an interlude between Acts 2 & 3, so to speak. Instead, the credits rolled! Wouldn't it be more interesting to see what happens to Kee, rather than her dodgy journey 'to' the boat? THAT'S the movie I thought I was coming to see in the first place. I wanted to see more of the fantastic dystopic world that Cuaron created. But also to have some answers (just some) to the plethora of questions I posed in the previous paragraph.
The acting here is solid (including a needed comedic turn by Michael Caine). But I was mainly emotionally detached because of the gloomy, depressing overall effect of the film. Positives? I commend Alfonso Cuaron for tackling (what must be) an intriguing book. And most of the cinematography & action is stunning! Some scenes are outright incredible (i.e., when blood spurts on a lens for the duration of one scene and we feel like the blood is on us!) There is so much to praise here, but I just didn't 'enjoy' it like I thought I would. I anticipated something more intellectual. The weighty socio-political concepts & topics that are touched upon in this film are great. But even though the gritty setting for those 'topics' is amazing ... a straightforward, shallower plot plays out for the remainder.