Children Of Men

Simply one of the best movies out there now, Alfonso Cuaron's CHILDREN OF MEN manages to strike a rich compound chord of topical events and project them into such a convincing portrayal of the state of the world circa 20 years from now -- that it will leave the attentive viewer stunned throughout its rather quick hour and 49 minutes.

CHILDREN OF MEN is the work of a bonafide film genius. I didn't need this movie to prove that to me - I was well aware of his abilities after watching the joyous Y Tu Mama Tambien as well as the masterfully directed The Prisoner Of Azkaban - but Cuaron really outdoes himself with this one, pole vaulting his film easily onto the stage previously occupied by Stanley Kubrick's inimitable A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.

Here we have the first truly realistic futurist depiction on the silver screen to emerge in decades. That alone should be a godsend to fans of the dystopian genre, and Cuaron manages to not only keep the goings on in check w/a fatalistic realism rarely seen onscreen, but also imbues subtle mythic details borrowed from Joseph Campbell's "Hero Of A Thousand Faces", which really drives the points home and elevates this film from the intense action sequence it is and into the realm of art.

I've admired Clive Owen for some time now, and am pleased to note that as of CHILDREN OF MEN, he has once again proven his acting chops and screen presence admirably.

There are so many things to appreciate in this movie - for instance, how Theo (Clive Owen) never picks up a gun, despite there being plenty of opportunities to do so.

Michael Caine is achingly wonderful in his role as Jasper Palmer (a subtle PKD reference -? I think so), the aged hippie living in a secluded house out in the countryside who helps Theo on his quest.

There was nothing overdone about this film's "preachiness", either. All references to projecting current problematic issues such as Homeland Security were done with subtle grace, and kept firmly in the background. This way the audience was free to focus on the direct plight of the protagonists and how they must deal with their harrowing situation in a world truly gone bleak.

CHILDREN OF MEN is a triumph. From its telling and seemingly unimportant details (the depiction of kittens and dogs; how Theo wears a pair of sandals & manages to lose one on his trek) to its vivid & visceral long-shot sequences of cinematography, this is a film that manages to engage and entertain its audience in a manner sadly missing from most Hollywood fare.

At once harrowing and hopeful, the movie may be too intense for some viewers but if you can manage to stomach the sporadic violence and unrelenting grimness, it should be worth the journey since the film is packed with meaning and beauty amidst all the ugliness and despair.

CHILDREN OF MEN could very well end up getting my vote for Best Film Of 2007 (though its too early in the year to be sure).