Children of Men
Published by Kaonashi January 8th, 2007 in Action, Social Commentary, Film Adaptation, Drama, Thriller, Sci-Fi, Suspense.
Title: Children of Men
Year: 2006
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring Cast: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine
Rated: R
NoFace for Film rating: 6 out of 7
I was ticked off when I first heard that Children of Men was only playing on 16 screens! Preposterous! I’d heard so many positive remarks about it and was disappointed to hear that I’d have to trek to another city to watch it. I was glad when I then found that it’s now showing in 1200 screens- and one of them was at my local movie theater.
Children of Men is loosely based on a novel of a similar name (”The Children of Men”) by PD James. The year is 2027, and mankind is on the brink of extinction as it tears the world apart. Whole countries, including the United States, have been ravaged by nuclear wars. Pollution has destroyed most of the environment. But the worst part is that for some unexplained reason, all the women on Earth have become infertile. No children have been born since 2009, and mankind loses hope every day. When the youngest living person (18 years and 4 months old) is killed, the world mourns his passing. Meanwhile, Great Britain becomes the last standing nation. As a desperate means of self-preservation, it has become a police state. Illegal immigrants are rounded up and deported; refugees (or ‘fugees) are placed in internment camps and are treated worse than animals.
Theo (Owen) is a former political activist who now works as a civil servant. One day he is contacted by his ex-wife Julian (Moore), the leader of the Fishes, an underground group of militants fighting against the mistreatment of immigrants. Julian asks Theo to help in transporting to safety a young woman aptly named Kee (Claire-Hope Ashitey), since she carries what may be the key to saving mankind from extinction.
Cuarón thrusts the audience into a gritty, desolate, violent world sadly not too far from our own. Most of the characters are dressed in shades of drab brown and grey, to match the war-torn environment around them. Even the grass looks dull green. The images of war, shootings, terrorist attacks, and people at internment camps with bags over their heads are not much different from the images we see in the news every day. I couldn’t help smirking when in one scene I saw the side of a bus carrying deported immigrants read “Homeland Security”. It’s very depressing, yet very real. Cuarón’s message regarding our real, current situation may be heavy-handed, but it’s effective.
One thing in particular that I liked was the use of animals to convey the sense of irony. While mankind can no longer have children, you see all sorts of animals roaming the streets- many dogs and cats, but also a deer and a zebra! Everyone has a pet. On one hand, you may take this to show that people are using animals as substitute children. On the other hand, it points out that clearly the animals have no problems procreating. I think this message especially hit home with me when a cute kitten is trying to climb up Theo’s leg. There are baby animals, but no human babies.
There was definitely a lot of action and suspense. I felt nervous for Theo and Kee as they made their journey, encountering many dangers and close calls. I was on the edge of my seat, hoping that no one catches them. At the same time, there are some lighthearted, actually funny moments. Although they seem strange and a little out of place, these scenes are a welcome respite in between the more intense scenes. One in particular involves Theo forgetting his shoes and having to wear flip flops for most of the film.
The cast was phenomenal. Owen, who is a natural at the rumpled anti-hero role, was perfect as the ex-activist who didn’t want to get involved. Meanwhile, I was pleasantly surprised to see Caine somewhat deviate from his current role as a father figure. While his character Jasper was still a father figure to Theo, Jasper is not a straightlaced, conservative man. Rather, he’s a long-haired, hippie ex-political cartoonist who lives in a secluded home in the woods and sells pot to cops. I have never seen Caine like this! It was pretty cool. Ashitey was great as Kee, a brave young woman but terrified of the enormous secret she’s keeping. Moore was ok as Julian, but I have a lot of trouble believing that she’s the leader of a militant organization. She doesn’t seem hardened and gritty enough.
Children of Men is definitely a must-see film. I would have rated this a 7, but much like The Departed, it’s so intense and emotion-filled that I wouldn’t be able to take immediate multiple viewings. Regardless, go see Children of Men at once. You won’t regret it.
Technorati Tags: Children of Men, P.D. James, Alfonso Cuaron, Clive Owen, Michael Caine, Julianne Moore
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4 Responses to “Children of Men”
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I whole-heartedly agree about going to see this film. It’s a gripping movie with a message. But then, I’m biased towards sci-fi movies of the Dystopia variety and watch these types of movies of the few movies I do watch.
The kind of movies I’ve been seeing lately are all action type movies, fluffy and light hearted ones and sci-fi. I’ve really gone off anything that is too much based in reality….I think we see so much this every day. Although your description does intrigue me….
Tonz- Before Children of Men, I had watched two children’s movies (Happy Feet and Charlotte’s Web), and a musical (Dreamgirls). I needed something serious, real, and gritty after all that sugary cuteness
I know what you mean about seeing to much of this in reality. Children of Men is difficult to watch. You worry for Theo and Kee the whole time, wondering if they’ll make it to their destination. It seems that no one can be trusted, and those who do help them are punished. It seems bleak and depressing.
But the message that rings throughout the movie is that there’s hope for mankind, even if it’s just a small glimmer of it. There’s a really powerful scene near the end where for a brief moment, there is peace between soldiers and rebels, when both sides whose purpose in life is to kill each other are united at that one moment. It’s amazing.
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