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Dan Owen reviews
- Cert:
- Running time: 109 minutes
- Year: 2006
- Released: 22nd September 2006
- Widescreen Ratio: 1.85:1
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Director:
- Alfonso Cuarón
(Children of Men, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Y Tu Mamá También, TV: Fallen Angels)
Producers:
- Marc Abraham, Eric Newman, Hilary Shor, Iain Smith and Tony Smith
Screenplay:
- Alfonso Cuarón, Timothy J. Sexton and Hawk Ostby
(based on the novel by P.D. James)
Music:
- John Tavener
Cast:
- Theodore Faron: Clive Owen
Julian Taylor: Julianne Moore
Jasper: Michael Caine
Luke: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Patric: Charlie Hunnam
Kee: Claire-Hope Ashitey
Miriam: Pam Ferris
Nigel: Danny Huston
Syd: Peter Mullan
Britain has a close relationship with dystopian futurism.
Since George Orwell’s classic 1984, the UK has been the setting for avariety of downbeat futures; from Terry Gilliam’s fanciful Brazil tothe recent V For Vendetta. Now it’s director Alfonso Curaron‘sturn to shine a murky light on our potential future, in an adaptation of P.D.James’ novel Children Of Men.
Britain, 2027 A.D. The green and pleasant land is now a grey, polluted shell,home to the last remnants of humanity following a global meltdown born out ofan infertility epidemic (no pun intended). For 18 years, no babies have beenborn; a sad fact that means mankind is on the verge of extinction and theliving face a childless world without hope or a sustainable future.
Clive Owen stars as Theo Faron, a former political activist who nowworks at the Ministry Of Energy. On the day when the youngest human is killedby a disgruntled fan, a world-weary Theo is kidnapped by a terrorist group(the “Fishes”) under command of his ex-wife Julian Taylor (Julianne Moore),and given a mission that could mean the salvation of the human race… totransport a pregnant girl to off-shore authorities…
Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón, who came to prominence in the West withY Tu Mamá También, before creating arguably the best Harry Potter movie,The Prisoner Of Azkaban, stays with Britain for another literaryadaptation. However, as screenwriter, Cuarón’s story contains many alterationsto P.D. James’ source book. In fact, only the concept remains fully intact.
Children Of Men is a bold and intelligent piece of speculative sciencefiction. There is no shortage of dystopian movies around, but what setsCuarón’s film apart is the attention to detail and determination to craft acompellingly realistic experience.
The calibre of the cast is exemplative of Cuarón’s growing stature; CliveOwen is enjoying a resurgence in his career, and here he tackles a characterwith more humanity and emotional range than we usual see in him. He’s a solidactor, although he remains emotionally difficult to form a connection to attimes.
The next actor of note is Michael Caine, a screen legend now enjoyingthe supporting roles that afford him to take some risks, or have some fun.In Children Of Men, Caine plays Jasper; a long-haired recluse living inthe middle of a wood with his mute wife. Jasper is a roguish charmer who hasseemingly resolved to remain young at heart given the crisis around them.It’s a great performance, full of eccentricity and poignancy, with Caine ondazzling form.
Julianne Moore is one of modern cinemas best actresses, and she rarelydelivers a bad performance. She’s good here as the opinionated activist,although the role isn’t big enough to really leave its mark.
The supporting cast are all very good, with nobody giving a bad performance.Young actress Claire-Hope Ashitey is fantatsic as pregnant Kee,Pam Ferris is good as a former mid-wife, even afforded a heart-tuggingscene to sink her teeth into. The main antagonist is Chiwetel Ejioforas rebel terrorist Luke, who once again makes a compelling villain. On thesidelines, Peter Mullan makes an impression in a small role as aprison warden called Syd.
But, this is Alfonso Cuarón’s movie every step of the way. No actor canupstage Cuarón’s direction, with Children Of Men most notable for itsstunning camerawork, cinematography and art direction. The future Britain isperfect; always recognisable despite occassional technical flourishes (theanimated advert billboards on buses, etc.). There are also some brilliantscenes of warring citizens and bombed streets.
The suburban dystopia is created with such care and attention that the moviehas plausability to spare. Throughout the movie you are fully immersed inthis world and, thanks to some “on the shoulder” camerawork, some sequencesare particularly immersive.
Two scenes should stick in your memory; firstly, a frightening ambush byterrorists, shot (apparently) in one continuous take. Secondly, anotheraction set-piece choreographed to perfection and filmed in one take with asingle camera, as Theo races through the ravaged streets of a refugeeinternment camp. Both are exemplory cinematic moments that, for my money,cement Cuarón’s growing reputation as a filmmaker bordering on genius. Theonly film that compares to these moments in recent memory was Spielberg’sD-Day opening fromSaving Private Ryan.
However, for all its technical and artistic achievements, beyond its concept,Children Of Men isn’t particularly special. The storyline is quitesimplistic, and expectation for a killer twist never materializes. The storypretty much plays out as you’d expect, beyond a few bumps in the track, andthe finale is slightly disappointing in its abruptness.
You get the feeling that Cuarón was so enamoured with the concept behind P.D.James’ book, and its artistic possibilities on-screen, that he forgot towrite a story with more turns in its beaten track. There are plenty ofpolitical parallels that are enjoyable to pick out, and Children Of Menwill certainly spark huge post-movie debate… but, as a story, it’s notmuch more than a generic dystopian road movie, really.
However, despite its storytelling fault, the pros far outweight the cons.This is high-concept political sci-fi from a visualist on fine form, actedwith conviction by a talented cast. For the first hour, you suspect thismight be the best film of the year, it’s just that the last hour doesn’treally go anywhere interesting once the set-up is over.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.