And although it’s set two decades in the future, this story -
both unbearably sad and heartbreakingly hopeful - could be easily be
taking place in the world we currently inhabit.
That’s not exactly comforting, given that the world of Children of Men
is suffused with fear, fury and violence. The gap between rich and poor
has become a chasm. Illegal immigrants are demonised, brutalised and
imprisoned.
And worst of all, a plague of infertility has swept the globe for unknown reasons- no child has been born in 18 years.
None
of it seems to mean all that much to Theo (Clive Owen). A former
activist, a past tragedy has led him to seek solace in a menial
bureaucratic job, a cynical worldview and a bottle of whiskey.
But
Theo is drawn back into the fray when he’s contacted by his ex-lover,
Julian (Julianne Moore), who still crusades against the oppressive
powers that be.
Persuaded by Julian to help a young woman named
Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) find safe passage out of the UK, Theo finds
his task made all the more difficult - and all the more important -
when Kee reveals that she is eight months pregnant.
And as the
country begins to tear itself apart, with rebels and refugees taking up
arms against the authorities, Theo and Kee find themselves caught in
the middle of the carnage.
Based on a novel by P.D. James, Children of Men
is one of the most bracing pieces of future-shock fiction to hit cinema
screens in some time. It bears a nominal resemblance to V for Vendetta but has a grimy, gritty sense of authenticity that film lacked.
Gifted director Alfonso Cuaron, revealing yet another string to his bow after the sensuality of his modernised Great Expectations, the earthiness of Y Tu Mama Tambien and the dark fantasy of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, creates a world where danger and hostility seem ever-present and hope seems to be fading away.
But
he deftly counteracts the bleakness by revealing his characters’
capacity for decency, compassion, courage and nobility, even when the
odds are stacked against them.
Cuaron’s also cluey enough to
realise that all the cinematic mayhem a director can choreograph has
little impact unless you care about the people in its midst.
So while the technical virtuosity of Children of Men’s
action sequences is breathtaking (such as one long, unbroken take that
follows Theo through an urban war zone), the investment the audience
has made in the characters’ welfare is what really hits home.
Given
this, Owen is magnificent - like many of Bogart’s heroes, Theo’s innate
goodness is evident, despite his world-weary facade.
He’s
well-teamed with Moore, who effortlessly conveys the kind of passion
and intelligence that would inspire Theo to follow her lead. And
Michael Caine as Theo’s best friend Jasper, an idealistic political
cartoonist, continues his recent run of top-shelf performances.
Children of Men is tough going but it’s more than worth it. It’s a masterful achievement that engages the mind and touches the heart.
EXTRASThe DVD we were sent did not include extras - one of those 'two films
on one DVD' deal - but there are extras on the DVD... or so we're led
to believe.
Children of Men Comments by Slavoj Zizek as well as some fantastic
featurettes covering the Futuristic Design, Visual Effects, Theo
& Julian as well as some delted scenes. Conclusion:
Movie 100% Extras: 60% 
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