JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonChildren of Men (2006) - Footage Included
February 8th 2007 03:27
Children Of Men
Due for Australian release on the 21st of February, I just found out this morning that the Region 4 DVD has been pushed back to March 28th. Rumour has it the date move is supposedly due to the Directors recalling of every copy worldwide due to a packaging dispute.
Director:Alfonso Cuaron
Writer:Alfonso Cuaron and Jim Sexton
Starring:Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine,. Danny Huston, Paul Sharma, Peter Mullan, Charlie Hunnam, Pam Ferris
“As the sound of the playgrounds faded, the despair set in, very odd what happens in a world without children's voices.” - Miriam
Britian in the year 2027, the human race is unable to reproduce, a child has not been born in 18 years and civil unrest is rampant due to poverty and radical anti-immigration laws.
In 2007 the misdirected war on terror rages, Aids and an exponentially increasing infant mortality rate makes the themes of Children of Men register as a plausible snapshot for the future of the species.
Resonating, we have “Fugees” (Refugees) being hunted down like cockroaches, treated like Taylor and his buddies in Planet of The Apes, captured and caged for processing, usually firing squad.
“Alright, yer 'fugees now…Put on yer 'fugee faces... sad face.” - Syd
Political corruption has rotted away the foundations of modern civilised society and now the “us” or “them” mantra is gospel as border control is the highest priority.
The world economy has crashed, the wealthy elite are oblivious, ignoring the problems around them. The threat of extinction looms, there are riots in the streets and yet they eat well, surrounding themselves in fine art and live unaffected by impending doom.
Opening with the death of the worlds youngest person at the hands of a crazed fan, we meet scruffy, downtrodden Theo Faron (Clive Owen) a disillusioned, one time dreamer.
Cynical and lethargic, he sees the disgraceful fate of the human race as an intangible truth.
“I can't really remember when I last had any hope, and I certainly can't remember when anyone else did either. Because really, since women stopped being able to have babies, what's left to hope for?’ – Theo
He is an unlikely savior, but his ex wife who he hasn't seen in 20 years turns up as the leader of a group of freedom fighters. Theo reluctantly is drawn into risking more than his life in the hope of redemption by being paid to transport a pregant girl to The Human Project, a possible oasis of safety.
“Your baby is the miracle the whole world has been waiting for.” - Jasper
John Doe says:
Based on the classic novel by PD James, this bleak, thrilling and thought provoking cinematic achievement exudes the odd ray of sunshine with unflinching authenticity.
Poetic, majestic and satisfying, there is a subtle satire at work here that makes a potentially cold experience into an edgy wake up call with a fresh originality.
Writer/Director Alfonso Cuaron (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Y tu mama tambien, A Little Princess) brings a unique point of view to the already complex concepts of the story. His blending of sound, image and dialogue infuses a humanity and emotional drama that works because of restraint.
There are very few noticeable Special FX and the usual trappings of the genre are no where to be seen. Instead opting for realism and a sly wit that is as dark as the premise, making you laugh at unlikely times and making this socially conscience entertainment.
The screenplay is organically structured and paced so that the episodic predilection of lesser works is avoided. Though it is plot driven the character dialogue facilitates exposition that is expelled naturally rather than in staged monologue or stiff repartee.
The remarkable sound design borders on experimental, bravely inserting a hum loop that remains for several scenes after a bomb blast near the start of the film. This is only the beginning of the devious trickery that adds extra dimension to the immersive experience.
The soundtrack and score protest against the establishment with the likes of John Lennon slamming home a break up in the system. Songs from just a few years ago are golden oldies in context and enhance the illusion that what we are watching is real.
There is an essence in every frame of the deft cinematography, without question the best of the year. Ducking and weaving, we are held seige in the middle of the action, long uncut takes are meticulously choreographed and have you holding your breath with anticipation. Atmospheric and equally impressive is the handling of the gentle, tender scenes that are framed in a way that gives them an ethereal quality of appropriate tranquillity or tragedy.
All these components wouldn’t matter if the cast weren’t committed to their parts and it is through them, especially Clive Owen that it works.
Long faced and brooding, Owen (Croupier, Ill Sleep When Im Dead, Sin City) looks great in monochrome and delivers his lines with a tortured ease to rival Robert Mitchum. He is happy to be rough around the edges and never makes an acting choice based on sympathy, there is a truth to Theo that could only be told through him.
Julianne Moore (Boogie Nights, Safe) brings an emotional vulnerability to the stereotypical “strong” woman, that makes you forget she is portraying fiction.
It is easy to see that Michael Caine (Get Carter, Ipcress File, Man Who Would Be King) enjoys playing the eccentric, pot smoking hermit Jasper, he gets some of the biggest laughs with his infantile humour that happily breaks the deadly serious tone.
JD loves films like this that have an important message, but don't get bogged down in preachy, empty solutions rather they ask questions of the viewer.
When George Orwell wrote 1984 he was trying to change our destiny through art, not see it embraced as a self fulfilling prophecy. John Doe sees Children of Men the same way, the wisdom being shared and the skill of the filmmakers is there to enlighten as well as amuse and distract.
“Even at our births death does but stand aside a little. And everday he looks towards us and muses somewhat to himself wether that day or the next he will draw nigh” - Francis Bacon
The DVD:
Transfer: Anamorphic Widescreen/Dolby Digital 5.1
Extras: Unknown
Click below to see the trailer
here is an intertesting making of that talks about the technical problems of staging the pulse racing action scenes
Due for Australian release on the 21st of February, I just found out this morning that the Region 4 DVD has been pushed back to March 28th. Rumour has it the date move is supposedly due to the Directors recalling of every copy worldwide due to a packaging dispute.
Poster- DVD unavailable till March 28th
Starring:Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine,. Danny Huston, Paul Sharma, Peter Mullan, Charlie Hunnam, Pam Ferris
“As the sound of the playgrounds faded, the despair set in, very odd what happens in a world without children's voices.” - Miriam
Britian in the year 2027, the human race is unable to reproduce, a child has not been born in 18 years and civil unrest is rampant due to poverty and radical anti-immigration laws.
In 2007 the misdirected war on terror rages, Aids and an exponentially increasing infant mortality rate makes the themes of Children of Men register as a plausible snapshot for the future of the species.
Resonating, we have “Fugees” (Refugees) being hunted down like cockroaches, treated like Taylor and his buddies in Planet of The Apes, captured and caged for processing, usually firing squad.
Political corruption has rotted away the foundations of modern civilised society and now the “us” or “them” mantra is gospel as border control is the highest priority.
The world economy has crashed, the wealthy elite are oblivious, ignoring the problems around them. The threat of extinction looms, there are riots in the streets and yet they eat well, surrounding themselves in fine art and live unaffected by impending doom.
Opening with the death of the worlds youngest person at the hands of a crazed fan, we meet scruffy, downtrodden Theo Faron (Clive Owen) a disillusioned, one time dreamer.
Cynical and lethargic, he sees the disgraceful fate of the human race as an intangible truth.
“I can't really remember when I last had any hope, and I certainly can't remember when anyone else did either. Because really, since women stopped being able to have babies, what's left to hope for?’ – Theo
He is an unlikely savior, but his ex wife who he hasn't seen in 20 years turns up as the leader of a group of freedom fighters. Theo reluctantly is drawn into risking more than his life in the hope of redemption by being paid to transport a pregant girl to The Human Project, a possible oasis of safety.
“Your baby is the miracle the whole world has been waiting for.” - Jasper
John Doe says:
Based on the classic novel by PD James, this bleak, thrilling and thought provoking cinematic achievement exudes the odd ray of sunshine with unflinching authenticity.
Poetic, majestic and satisfying, there is a subtle satire at work here that makes a potentially cold experience into an edgy wake up call with a fresh originality.
Writer/Director Alfonso Cuaron (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Y tu mama tambien, A Little Princess) brings a unique point of view to the already complex concepts of the story. His blending of sound, image and dialogue infuses a humanity and emotional drama that works because of restraint.
There are very few noticeable Special FX and the usual trappings of the genre are no where to be seen. Instead opting for realism and a sly wit that is as dark as the premise, making you laugh at unlikely times and making this socially conscience entertainment.
The screenplay is organically structured and paced so that the episodic predilection of lesser works is avoided. Though it is plot driven the character dialogue facilitates exposition that is expelled naturally rather than in staged monologue or stiff repartee.
The remarkable sound design borders on experimental, bravely inserting a hum loop that remains for several scenes after a bomb blast near the start of the film. This is only the beginning of the devious trickery that adds extra dimension to the immersive experience.
The soundtrack and score protest against the establishment with the likes of John Lennon slamming home a break up in the system. Songs from just a few years ago are golden oldies in context and enhance the illusion that what we are watching is real.
There is an essence in every frame of the deft cinematography, without question the best of the year. Ducking and weaving, we are held seige in the middle of the action, long uncut takes are meticulously choreographed and have you holding your breath with anticipation. Atmospheric and equally impressive is the handling of the gentle, tender scenes that are framed in a way that gives them an ethereal quality of appropriate tranquillity or tragedy.
All these components wouldn’t matter if the cast weren’t committed to their parts and it is through them, especially Clive Owen that it works.
Long faced and brooding, Owen (Croupier, Ill Sleep When Im Dead, Sin City) looks great in monochrome and delivers his lines with a tortured ease to rival Robert Mitchum. He is happy to be rough around the edges and never makes an acting choice based on sympathy, there is a truth to Theo that could only be told through him.
Julianne Moore (Boogie Nights, Safe) brings an emotional vulnerability to the stereotypical “strong” woman, that makes you forget she is portraying fiction.
It is easy to see that Michael Caine (Get Carter, Ipcress File, Man Who Would Be King) enjoys playing the eccentric, pot smoking hermit Jasper, he gets some of the biggest laughs with his infantile humour that happily breaks the deadly serious tone.
JD loves films like this that have an important message, but don't get bogged down in preachy, empty solutions rather they ask questions of the viewer.
When George Orwell wrote 1984 he was trying to change our destiny through art, not see it embraced as a self fulfilling prophecy. John Doe sees Children of Men the same way, the wisdom being shared and the skill of the filmmakers is there to enlighten as well as amuse and distract.
“Even at our births death does but stand aside a little. And everday he looks towards us and muses somewhat to himself wether that day or the next he will draw nigh” - Francis Bacon
The DVD:
Transfer: Anamorphic Widescreen/Dolby Digital 5.1
Extras: Unknown
Click below to see the trailer
here is an intertesting making of that talks about the technical problems of staging the pulse racing action scenes
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
They are rude bastards bumping the release...not sure what the caper is with the Directors DVD recall, may have to see what I can find.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
But thats why I gave up on the oscars years ago.
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Certainly on my DVD list for March, as I deemed it small screen entertainment when it first came out.
I do that.
Anyhoo, I like the way Azkaban was directed and I like Owen's performance in Across Borders (or whatever it was called)...
One drawback for me is Julianne Moore - I can't stand her - but I look forward to this and appreciate your review, now I'll be sure not to miss it.
Cheers
:Lilla..
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD