A bleak world
I watched Children of Men, starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, and Clare-Hope Ashitay, this week. Yikes.
Set in 2027, this film depicts an Earth in which humans are dealing with 20 years' worth of infertility and societies around the world have collapsed into chaos and violence. Britain is under military rule, and illegal immigrants are being summarily deported. Theo (Owen) works for the government and spends his spare time with Jasper (Caine), a retired political cartoonist with a penchant for illegal drugs. Theo becomes a reluctant hero when his estranged wife (Moore), the leader of a resistance movement, contacts him for help transporting a young refugee to the English coast. Theo agrees, for a price, and meets up with Kee (Ashitay) for the trip.
What Theo does not initially realize is that Kee is pregnant with the first human to be born in nearly two decades. Once he knows the truth, a harrowing journey to safety begins for the expectant mother, her unborn child, and Theo.
This film is a VERY loose adaptation of P.D. James' book (of the same name), published in 1992. All I can say is that James, and director Alfonso Cuaron, must both have a very bleak view of the future. The world is controlled by violence, distrust, and prejudice. People have absolutely no hope. The cinematography matches this, with future London looking trashy, gritty, and even grayer than it does now.
This film is expertly performed. The script is scary. The primary premise - that humans could become infertile and face extinction - is fascinating. Some of the decisions the characters make in the movie (such as keeping Kee's pregnancy a secret) are ridiculous, however, and sometimes make it difficult to truly inhabit the world of the film.
Though the ending is ultimately redemptive, this is not a happy movie. And it's not for families (too much violence). Overall, I'd give it about 3 stars.
Set in 2027, this film depicts an Earth in which humans are dealing with 20 years' worth of infertility and societies around the world have collapsed into chaos and violence. Britain is under military rule, and illegal immigrants are being summarily deported. Theo (Owen) works for the government and spends his spare time with Jasper (Caine), a retired political cartoonist with a penchant for illegal drugs. Theo becomes a reluctant hero when his estranged wife (Moore), the leader of a resistance movement, contacts him for help transporting a young refugee to the English coast. Theo agrees, for a price, and meets up with Kee (Ashitay) for the trip.
What Theo does not initially realize is that Kee is pregnant with the first human to be born in nearly two decades. Once he knows the truth, a harrowing journey to safety begins for the expectant mother, her unborn child, and Theo.
This film is a VERY loose adaptation of P.D. James' book (of the same name), published in 1992. All I can say is that James, and director Alfonso Cuaron, must both have a very bleak view of the future. The world is controlled by violence, distrust, and prejudice. People have absolutely no hope. The cinematography matches this, with future London looking trashy, gritty, and even grayer than it does now.
This film is expertly performed. The script is scary. The primary premise - that humans could become infertile and face extinction - is fascinating. Some of the decisions the characters make in the movie (such as keeping Kee's pregnancy a secret) are ridiculous, however, and sometimes make it difficult to truly inhabit the world of the film.
Though the ending is ultimately redemptive, this is not a happy movie. And it's not for families (too much violence). Overall, I'd give it about 3 stars.
Comments
Hope you and the little man are well. Miss ya, girlie!