Children Of MenWritten By Alfonso Cuaron & Timothy J. Sexton
Directed By Alfonso Cuaron
Let me start by saying how embarrassed I am about this being my first movie pick in about 2 months, and only my second since the start of Gabazooba. I've just been so busy with school that when I do get a chance to see a movie, it's usually not good enough to make me want to write about it. That is until I decided to pop "Children Of Men" in my DVD player the other night. I know that I said that I wanted to write about movies that most of the people I know haven't seen before, but I just can't resist writing about this movie.
This is movie that I remembered greatly after seeing the first time. It stayed with me for weeks after my first viewing. I had it in my top 5 movies of 2006 and I have the poster on my wall. When I bought the DVD though, I just never got around to watching it again. It wasn't that I didn't want to watch it, I just had other things come up. The more I thought about it though, the more I felt compelled to watch it. So I finally watched it for the second time and I have to say, it was much better than I even remembered.
This is a movie that commands your attention and will ultimately get it. The story is fairly simple but deeply layered. The year is 2027 and the world has become infertile. No babies have been born for 18 years and most of the world has fallen to chaos. Britain appears to be the sole standing society, but is teetering on the brink of chaos itself. Theo, played by Clive Owen, is contacted by his ex-wife Julian, played by Julian Moore, and asked to get some transit papers to transfer a young girl named Kee across the country. Julian is a leader of a rebel group that is fighting for immigration rights, for in the Britain all immigrants are hunted down and deported, jailed or killed. Hence the need for the transit papers, for Kee herslef is an immigrant herself.
Theo agrees to help and joins them on their journey, for the only transit papers he could get were joint papers in his name. After a sudden attack, Julian is killed, leaving Theo and Kee alone with the rebel group. They are taken to a safe house, where Theo discovers that Kee is pregnant and is trying to reach the Human Project, an alleged team of scientist that are searching for a cure to infertility. Theo also discovers that the attack that killed Julian was actually orchestrated by the rebel group in an attempt to keep Kee with them, so that they can use her baby as a political figure to aid them in their fight. Theo helps Kee escape and the two set off to meet the Human Project, while being hunted by the rebel group.
What makes this movie so amazing is how atmospheric the world created by director Alfonso
Cuaron really is, and his ability to draw you into it. His direction in this movie is some of the best that I have ever seen. The attention to detail that is given in this movie is astounding. If you pay attention to the background during the movies multiple long takes, you will notice the world behind the characters is just as much alive as they are. Along with the great direction, this movie has some of the most astounding cinematography, and certainly the best use of the steady cam since "Saving Private Ryan".
Whats great about the long takes in this film is not only how long they go on but also how they are never boring. Everything that is fit into these long takes is done so perfectly well that it grabs you and never lets go. This is thanks not only to the great direction by Cuaron but also the the great performances given by the actors. Clive Owen gives a brilliant performance as Theo, and I say brilliant because it is a real portrayal of a character. Owen plays Theo in a way that makes him real, nothing more. It's not a flashy or commanding performance, that makes you feel you are watching a great actor rather than a character, but one that you can truly believe is a real person.
Many people think that this movie is political in nature and that the backdrop of immigration is truly the message of the film. I believe that Cuaron's aim was much broader than politics but rather humanity in a global sense. I feel that his story deals more with the selfishness of man and his choices. The issue of immigration in the film is more of a device to show how selfish the world has become. The last remaining society has decided that they are only going to help themselves and any outsiders will be left to fend for themselves. The rebel group who fights for immigrant rights would rather use Kee's baby for their own gain, rather than help her reach the Human Project where her baby could be delivered safely.
Notice how the Human Project itself is questioned throughout the entire film, because nobody has actually seen them or knows if they are even real. In a world that is at war and every side thinks only of themselves, the thought of a group of people that are actually doing something to better the whole world cant really be believed. It's also to note that every person that is good in nature in the film, and tries to help Theo and Kee, lives in hiding. The last bit of good and selflessness in the world has been forced into hiding. Cuaron paints a picture of a world that has been consumed by selfishness and evil, where good people have to hide and are always in danger of losing their lives. But he leaves his world not without hope.
There are many symbols in this movie, such as the fact that Theo goes most of the movie without shoes and every animal he comes into contact loves him; but the most obvious symbol is of course Kee's baby, as a symbol of hope. Notice the wonderful scene towards the end of the film when Theo and Kee carry her baby out of a building in the middle of a battle. Everyone puts their guns down at the sight of the child and for a brief moment, there is peace. The soldiers and rebels think not about themselves or their war, but are awestruck by the sight of the baby and the hope that it brings. It is only once they pass through the group of soldiers that the war begins again. It is a beautiful moment, capable of sending chills through my body every time I see it. It is this moment that I feel embodies everything Cuaron is trying to say. The world needs hope and a world without hope is not a world worth living in. People must be willing to fight but for hope and for the betterment of the world, rather than selfish reasons.
I urge you all to go and see this movie. Even if you've already seen it or you didn't like it, go watch it again. It is a movie that grows on you and stands above most films being produced these days. It deals with issues bigger than itself and succeeds in everything it tries to do. It will draw you in and and entertain you, as well as give you more than enough to talk about. I urge you to watch it and discuss it; there is certainly something there to be found by everyone.
9/10
This is movie that I remembered greatly after seeing the first time. It stayed with me for weeks after my first viewing. I had it in my top 5 movies of 2006 and I have the poster on my wall. When I bought the DVD though, I just never got around to watching it again. It wasn't that I didn't want to watch it, I just had other things come up. The more I thought about it though, the more I felt compelled to watch it. So I finally watched it for the second time and I have to say, it was much better than I even remembered.
This is a movie that commands your attention and will ultimately get it. The story is fairly simple but deeply layered. The year is 2027 and the world has become infertile. No babies have been born for 18 years and most of the world has fallen to chaos. Britain appears to be the sole standing society, but is teetering on the brink of chaos itself. Theo, played by Clive Owen, is contacted by his ex-wife Julian, played by Julian Moore, and asked to get some transit papers to transfer a young girl named Kee across the country. Julian is a leader of a rebel group that is fighting for immigration rights, for in the Britain all immigrants are hunted down and deported, jailed or killed. Hence the need for the transit papers, for Kee herslef is an immigrant herself.Theo agrees to help and joins them on their journey, for the only transit papers he could get were joint papers in his name. After a sudden attack, Julian is killed, leaving Theo and Kee alone with the rebel group. They are taken to a safe house, where Theo discovers that Kee is pregnant and is trying to reach the Human Project, an alleged team of scientist that are searching for a cure to infertility. Theo also discovers that the attack that killed Julian was actually orchestrated by the rebel group in an attempt to keep Kee with them, so that they can use her baby as a political figure to aid them in their fight. Theo helps Kee escape and the two set off to meet the Human Project, while being hunted by the rebel group.
What makes this movie so amazing is how atmospheric the world created by director Alfonso
Cuaron really is, and his ability to draw you into it. His direction in this movie is some of the best that I have ever seen. The attention to detail that is given in this movie is astounding. If you pay attention to the background during the movies multiple long takes, you will notice the world behind the characters is just as much alive as they are. Along with the great direction, this movie has some of the most astounding cinematography, and certainly the best use of the steady cam since "Saving Private Ryan".Whats great about the long takes in this film is not only how long they go on but also how they are never boring. Everything that is fit into these long takes is done so perfectly well that it grabs you and never lets go. This is thanks not only to the great direction by Cuaron but also the the great performances given by the actors. Clive Owen gives a brilliant performance as Theo, and I say brilliant because it is a real portrayal of a character. Owen plays Theo in a way that makes him real, nothing more. It's not a flashy or commanding performance, that makes you feel you are watching a great actor rather than a character, but one that you can truly believe is a real person.
Many people think that this movie is political in nature and that the backdrop of immigration is truly the message of the film. I believe that Cuaron's aim was much broader than politics but rather humanity in a global sense. I feel that his story deals more with the selfishness of man and his choices. The issue of immigration in the film is more of a device to show how selfish the world has become. The last remaining society has decided that they are only going to help themselves and any outsiders will be left to fend for themselves. The rebel group who fights for immigrant rights would rather use Kee's baby for their own gain, rather than help her reach the Human Project where her baby could be delivered safely.
Notice how the Human Project itself is questioned throughout the entire film, because nobody has actually seen them or knows if they are even real. In a world that is at war and every side thinks only of themselves, the thought of a group of people that are actually doing something to better the whole world cant really be believed. It's also to note that every person that is good in nature in the film, and tries to help Theo and Kee, lives in hiding. The last bit of good and selflessness in the world has been forced into hiding. Cuaron paints a picture of a world that has been consumed by selfishness and evil, where good people have to hide and are always in danger of losing their lives. But he leaves his world not without hope.There are many symbols in this movie, such as the fact that Theo goes most of the movie without shoes and every animal he comes into contact loves him; but the most obvious symbol is of course Kee's baby, as a symbol of hope. Notice the wonderful scene towards the end of the film when Theo and Kee carry her baby out of a building in the middle of a battle. Everyone puts their guns down at the sight of the child and for a brief moment, there is peace. The soldiers and rebels think not about themselves or their war, but are awestruck by the sight of the baby and the hope that it brings. It is only once they pass through the group of soldiers that the war begins again. It is a beautiful moment, capable of sending chills through my body every time I see it. It is this moment that I feel embodies everything Cuaron is trying to say. The world needs hope and a world without hope is not a world worth living in. People must be willing to fight but for hope and for the betterment of the world, rather than selfish reasons.
I urge you all to go and see this movie. Even if you've already seen it or you didn't like it, go watch it again. It is a movie that grows on you and stands above most films being produced these days. It deals with issues bigger than itself and succeeds in everything it tries to do. It will draw you in and and entertain you, as well as give you more than enough to talk about. I urge you to watch it and discuss it; there is certainly something there to be found by everyone.
9/10
4 comments:
your a beautiful writter
your writing style is very good and it comes off very planned and organized, but i know most of it comes of the top of your head, which makes it even better. The only thing i have to add about the movie is...10/10, but you knew i'd say that already.
Everyone will always disagree with me for thinking this movie is grossly overrated. It is filmed spot on, has a great cast, and a unique plot.
HOWEVER this movie has very little "replay value" or whatever you'd like to call it. I watched this movie the first time and was blown away, much like everyone else was, but after watching it again I was surprised and how much it seemed to drag out.
People seem to take this movie and go "OH MY GOD THIS IS SO AMAZING I UNDERSTAND IT I UNDERSTAND IT THE END OMG I GET THE ENDING THE BABIES CRYING IT MAKES SENSE THERE'S HOPE THERE'S HOPE!!!!!!!!!!" True, this is a thought provoking movie. But honestly, it isn't anything really profound, and certainly not as profound as people play it off to be.
I'm probably just being an asshole, though. This movie is universally loved by pretty much anyone who sees it. But after seeing it again, I saw all it's flaws and escaped the effect is originally had on me. It's good, sure. It's great, yeah. But it's not that difficult to understand, and I think that people felt like big winners when they understood a "smart movie."
see, Brent I think it's good because it doesn't take much to "get" it. It paints the picture with broad strokes while not falling into the "lowest common denominator" THIS IS THE SYMBOLISM GUYS! Basically it doesn't dumb it down but stays away from being pretentious. Plus it's just ace work from everyone involved.
Post a Comment