Friday, July 21, 2006

Children of Men


So, the trailer for this movie just came out, and I have to say, I was amazed. I didn't know anything about this movie before I watched the trailer, the trailer was actually the first time I had heard of it at all, but it just about blew me away. It makes me really want to see this movie, as every effective trailer should do, but it's more. It's not that it was necessarily the best trailer I'd ever seen or anything, but it introduces the concept of the movie in such an epiphanic way that when you realize it, you're hooked. It also has great visual characteristics. Specifically, I love how they simulate sunspots and use them as transitions. Subtle undertones and foreshadowing. The trailer also shows the emotions in the film, gives a general feeling of it, but somehow doesn't come close to ruining it, it actually makes me want to see it more than if it was, say, just a teaser. Click the poster to see the trailer. I kind of put that poster together myself actually, so the real one could look totally different, but you can check out the big version of my version.

So the movie is titled Children of Men, it's based on The Children of Men, a book by P.D. James, it's slated to come out September 29th, and Monsters & Critics gives us the synopsis:

Children of Men envisages a world one generation from now that has fallen into anarchy on the heels of an infertility defect in the population. The world's youngest citizen has just died at 18, and humankind is facing the likelihood of its own extinction.

Set against a backdrop of London torn apart by violence and warring nationalistic sects, Children of Men follows disillusioned bureaucrat Theo (Owen) as he becomes an unlikely champion of Earth's survival. When the planet's last remaining hope is threatened, this reluctant activist is forced to face his own demons and protect her from certain peril.


It's directed by Alfonso Cuarón, the guy who did Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Y tu mamá también, and it stars Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, and Michael Caine.

I love the idea. It's a science fiction-based movie that looks to have SO much depth. And Clive Owen is in it! I'm not sure I haven't loved every role Clive Owen has played. I have always loved Clive Owen; he's a great actor, he's a badass, and he picks great roles. I appreciate that last one. Notice I said roles, and not movies, because there is a big difference. Coming off his last big hit, The Inside Man (which I reviewed when it came out), I think he's going to be awesome in this movie. Just look at the bits in the trailer; he's AWESOME! It looks like his performance in this movie could be Oscar caliber. By no means am I "calling" anything, but this performance, from the little bit we get in the trailer, looks like it could be Owen's best to date. It looks like it could evoke all the emotions, especially empathy, from the audience the entire time.

Plus, check out that supporting cast he's got there. Moore and Caine are stars in themselves. All 3 of these actors can and have headlined their own movies before, so getting them together will be amazing.

Ok, so enough about Clive Owen. I'll end by saying I love the idea of this movie. I think the plot is fantastic, and when a movie has a great cast, an esteemed director, and is riding the coattails of a great plot, it's bound to be a great movie. Without knowing much about this movie, I have some high expectations, but I'm willing to bet they'll be met. What do you guys think? Love Clive like I do? Like the look of this movie? Let me know.

2 comments:

cody said...

clive owen is a great actor with a even better voice he's just not much of character actor. (he essentially plays every character the same way) he is always brooding self possessed and introspective. his best role was by far his preformance in closer. i'd be impressed with the guy if hey could show me something in this new movie.

Zach Francis said...

This almost sounds like a modified version of Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut. Or what happened in the book outside of the Galapagos Islands. I'd definately suggest reading the book, Vonnegut always has good shit.

Anyway, tangent about a somewhat similar sounding book aside this movie sounds pretty damn good. I plan on seeing it.