Children of Men - movie review

Who shows us goodness? What defines the future? When do we lose our desire for life? Where do we find faith? What gives the world hope? These are some of the questions pondered in The Children of Men.



Sounds interesting doesn't it. What if I told you that Clive Owen and Julianne Moore were involved in the exploration? What if I told you the discussion unfolds within a dystopian future? What if I told you the package was delivered in the visual wrapping of Alfonso Cuaron? For me, this combination was almost perfect and I could not resist. The opportunity to find an intelligent, beautiful and well-acted film should never be overlookded and the composite elements of Children offers it all. What it doesn't do is deliver ... completely.

The film is bleak and heavy. The setup of the world is not fully articulated and it limits the impact of the rest of the film. And by the nd, although the hope is presented you cannot help but feel depressed by the entire experience. This result is sad because the film could have offered so much more. It almost feels as if it held back on the truly interesting philosophical elements lest they make the audience uncomfortable or confused. I reckon the book was less forgiving in its investigation.

And yet Children of Men is a strong effort. The performances are top-notch (as expected). Michael Caine offers some of the film's best arguments right until his final heartfelt scene. Owen manages his depressed versus determined struggle exceedingly well. And as the involuntary keeper of the world's biggest secret he manages to be heroic in an everyday way that feels appropriate. Finally, the cinematography is wonderfully kinetic and compact. One scene in a moving car is especially brilliant for trapping the audience in the car itself rather then taking an outsider perspective. The decline of civilization is presented with a dark realism that films have recently ignored (or been afraid to tackle considering the current political climate). Cuaron's touches are evident - an abondoned school, birth on a dirty mattress, the foggy sea - and deliver a deliberate mood. And so althought the film did not reach as far into the discussion as I would have liked it does manage to offer an engaging experience nonetheless.

Oh, and the answer to the questions? Children. Think about and you will see the brilliance.