Children of Men
from 185 reviews
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Released:03/08/2009
More Details
Studio:Universal Pictures UK
Director:Alfonso Cuaron
Cast: Clive Owen, Oana Pellea, Paul Sharma, Jacek Koman, Julianne Moore
Running Time:109 minutes
Amazon.co.uk Review
Presenting a bleak, harrowing, and yet ultimately hopeful vision of humankind's not-too-distant future, Children of Men is a riveting cautionary tale of potential things to come. Set in the crisis-ravaged future of 2027, and based on the atypical 1993 novel by British mystery writer P.D. James, the anxiety-inducing, action-packed story is set in a dystopian England where humanity has become infertile (the last baby was born in 2009), immigration is a crime, refugees (or "fugees") are caged like animals, and the world has been torn apart by nuclear fallout, rampant terrorism, and political rebellion. In this seemingly hopeless landscape of hardscrabble survival, a jaded bureaucrat named Theo (Clive Owen) is drawn into a desperate struggle to deliver Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey), the world's only pregnant woman, to a secret group called the Human Project that hopes to discover a cure for global infertility. As they carefully navigate between the battling forces of military police and a pro-immigration insurgency, Theo, Kee, and their secretive allies endure a death-defying ordeal of urban warfare, and director Alfonso Cuaron (with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki) capture the action with you-are-there intensity. There's just enough humour to balance the film's darker content (much of it coming from Michael Caine, as Theo's ageing hippie cohort), and although Children of Men glosses over many of the specifics about its sociopolitical worst-case scenario (which includes Julianne Moore in a brief but pivotal role), it's still an immensely satisfying, pulse-pounding vision of a future that represents a frightening extrapolation of early 21st-century history. --Jeff Shannon
Tags
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Reviews
- Superb, best film of this year and definitely in my top ten
This film has not been given the recognition it deserves, the scenes and characters contain a gritty realism that keeps you immersed in the story. It is set in the near future and is a mild sci-fi, but if you don't like the genre do not be put off, as the believability in the storyline and characters are really well done and the technology are not alien to today's. At moments in the film you can't second guess how things will play out. I wish more films were shot in the same way this one was, it captures the same feeling of reality as saving private ryan did and it has some brilliant action scenes. If you're British, then you will enjoy this even more as it's made in the UK and therefore, has no cliché and typical script.
As I heard someone say, Clive Owen is the best action hero who never picks up a gun. I am usually a patient cheapskate and wait to buy a film I like as it goes down in price, but this one I'll be buying on day of release. Do not miss out, buy it.
The movie is superb. I watched it (twice) in a good cinema with good and loud stereo, and it makes a difference. The sound effects are awesome and I guess some impact must be lost on the small screen. It is a mixture of elements of sci-fi, thriller, drama, the road and even war film. It is very well directed, especially when hand held camera is used, and brilliantly shot. It contains some of the most convincing scenes of urban warfare I've ever seen. Acting is good - especially by Owen and Caine. The script, upon closer examination, has more to it than at first meets the eye, I think its meanings could be discussed even at psychology, religion or philosophy seminars. As usual with a very good film, it can be admired for a few reasons.
A world where humans can no longer conceive is on the brink of total meltdown. The government has finally achieved the totallitarian state it is striving so hard for now and the working classes are split between those trudging through the routine of survival and all out anarchy. Its grey, miserable and pointless, but most of all its the most accurate view of the disasterous future seen on film for some time.
Into this hopeless mess comes a young African girl who is pregnant and is entrusted to clive owens former anarchist for safekeeping. Trouble is hes gone a bit soft and he soon finds out that he cant trust anyone.
Avoiding all the usual "thats not going to happen" silly inventions and robot filled dreamworld that all too often takes over sci-fi movies, this is all too believable and the advances shown all seem possible. The grim britain portrayed is a superb dark toned hopeless wasteland where the human race is raging for one last time before disappearing forever.
All involved give convincing performances and the effects and backdrops are all superbly realised.
The picture is sharp and the CGI holds up well. So too the sound is as clear as a bell and steering effects spot on.
This is not a film to cheer you up or put a smile on your face but it is a disturbingly realistic fast forward into the not so distant future with a gripping plot and a fresh look at the sci-fi genre. Recommended.
Here's a film I really wish I'd caught at the cinema. My initial thoughts were that it was a little slow but it soon picked up and I was on the edge of my seat, breathless! For me, the most impressive thing about the film was the superb direction and the extensive use of handheld camera coupled with incredibly long and complex takes. Just how did they set it all up with so much beautifully choreographed action involving hundreds of people, massive explosions and building collapses, squibs, and amongs the chaos and carnage, consumate acting from Mr Owen. In takes that lasted for many minutes without a single edit, covering huge distances and encounters with myriad other actors, it must have been a nightmare to rehearse and film but it really makes you feel you are right in amongst it all! Highly recommended.
Quite aside from the phenomenal acting and wonderful direction of this film, the storyline is solid and works on so many different levels. Although set in a slightly different time period from the original novel, the plot has been translated perfectly to a near-future which is 100% believable, given the current state of the world... some wonderful real-world ideas are brought 'up-to-date' with the future timeline, and you find yourself chilled by the familiarity of Cuaron's vision.
The action sequences are presented in the 'hyper-real' style of Spielberg's best (such as 'Saving Private Ryan' and 'War of the Worlds') with some inspired cinematography, and there are some moments of horrific action which will have you literally squirming in your seat. You'll not find any superhero protagonists shrugging off bullets here - this is 'one-shot-and-you're-dead' cinema.
I have a strong suspicion that I'll be teaching this film to my media students for years to come. Absolutely breathtaking stuff!
