children of men

last night was spent watching "children of men" at silver city ...it was FINALLY released here on friday!
I was feeling a bit ambivalent about it because I think I hyped it up way too much for myself...I mean...the trailer made me cry. A TRAILER. I had heard Cuaron (the director) talk about it, and was so excited to see the 9 minute single shot (I later read in a review where the writer commented that it would make Stanley Kubrick fall to his knees in admiration).

Anyways, onto my thoughts.
I LOVED IT. I know that seems obvious at this point, but I have to say that it met my expectations and then some. It's been years since I've seen such a realistic film, where I felt like I was experiencing true events. this seems strange considering the film is set in 2027 London, but I think the director intended for it to be about the present rather than a future. it's no "gattaca" or "the fifth element" but rather something in its own genre. the photography is astoundingly beautiful, the color schemes use mostly grays and blues with exceptional lighting skill. the movie never shys away from shocking you and does nearly nothing to set up "critical" scenes...and perhaps that's how the audience feels completely pulled into reality: the events happen and are portrayed seemingly without preconception.

beyond the technical beauty, the film was also incredibly touching. There were moments where I started crying and didn't even notice because I was so engrossed in what was happening...it's rare to care about characters so quickly and deeply. in a world where women are no longer able to bear children, where militarism has become "the way things are", and hopelessness has become a great plague...cuaron is able to get across to the audience that hope still exists and can be found at the very heart of darkness. as one reviewer put it, cuaron shows us that "darkness always brings a dawn".

it isn't a "pleasant" film, and can certainly be called a gruesome dystopic nightmare...but the sharp dialogue and humanity of the characters shine through to help us see how much this is a possible outcome for us all. for me, it made me think about the necessity of faith: not specifically a faith in God, but a faith in a better tomorrow and the sacrifices that it requires. more importantly, the film serves as a "warning sign" of sorts for our present day politics and values. disillusionment, ignorance, complacency, and our lack of compassion are the great terrors of our time - our response is necessary in order to ensure a better tomorrow.

and oh yes - clive owen is brilliant in it! it reminded me a little of his role in the bmw film "powder keg", coincidentally directed by alejandro gonzalez innaritu.