Children of Men

It's not appropriate to write "a technically brilliant, all-round brilliant thing" about most films seen in the movie theater. However, that does apply to Children of Men. Add together brilliant cinematography, direction that knows what to do with its mega-long shots, great acting performances... There you have it. I'll probably never get Michael Caine combined with Ruby Tuesday out of my head. (24/08/2009)

If Children of Men didn’t have such a simple plot, there wouldn’t be anything to reproach it for. The plot wouldn’t even be a problem, but the end result is merely a patchwork of a bunch of incredibly intense scenes that don't seem particularly consistent as a whole. Even without the long takes, Children of Men would be worth seeing. However, the scenes are there, and they constitute the proverbial icing on the cake, which elevates Children to a clear "must see" affair that we haven’t been treated to in our movie theaters for a long time. And probably won't for a long time to come. (11/11/2006)

Absolute victory of form over content and story. Even though, in its almost metaphorical conception of human incapacity to reproduce, it can drive a few bugs into the viewer's mind. It's a pity that it doesn't develop the central idea too much, it doesn't provide a cohesive resolution and rather serves as a screen for the camera and editing. But oh, for what purpose! The expression "raw" has never applied to any other film as much as it does to The Descendants. The attack on the car and especially Thea's journey through the battle tumult resonate in me longer than after the closing credits start rolling, and I am afraid that some unnecessary and mainly pre-condemned plagiarists will try to shoot a scene that will be better or longer and fatally fail. Definitely not the film of the year, but perfect for contemplation and amazement from a visual standpoint. (23/12/2006)

The brilliant parable of the demise of humanity culminates in the technical means of storytelling. The music is a very interesting mix of apocalyptic chorus, unpleasant noises and hits, which can be heard directly in the fictional world (from the radio and the futuristic hi-fi system). I have to admit that after watching Children of Men... I will never forget Ruby Tuesday. A similarly effective resource is the editing, which in some places is completely absent and allows the film to flow in incredibly long and raw units. This highlights the expressive work of Emmanuel Lubezki's handheld camera (he also shot Burton's Sleepy Hollow). With its shaky eye, the camera adds a touch of authenticity to both dialogue scenes and action sequences, which are unhealthily imminent and impressive. The actor group led by the excellent Clive Owen deserves great recognition... there is no doubt that his rough masculine face is endowed with gentle inner acting and natural fragility, favoring civilian positions. Michael Caine in the role of Jasper once again demonstrates what the strengthening charisma of old age is... Claire Hope-Ashitey's unknown face shines and can easily match a star like Julianne Moore. The main star, however, is Alfonso Cuarón, who, after his difficult involvement in the Harry Potter films, finally submits work that ranks him amongst the top magnitude of director stars. The way he works with large sets of shots, with human faces, the way in which the film intensity escalates, the way he evokes the atmosphere of the future world with minimal resources and the way he reflects the decaying state of our world in the future world with minimal resources is admirable and worth acknowledging. Children of Men is not a matter of vain moralizing, nor a disaster film based on a scheme and all-telling symbols. It is essentially an intimate film, one that is harshly authentic and honest. On a small sample of humanity, he presents a horrible vision of the end of humanity, which is symbolically raised in its resolution... there is no doubt that this "science fiction" is nothing but the freezing hyperbole of today. For me, the current spectator experience of the year. (12/11/2006)

This is no milestone in the history of cinema, for that Cuarón would have to be as good a screenwriter as he is a director, but it’s definitely a film that can only be recommended. At least 2 scenes – the carjacking and the wartime turmoil in the refugee zone – are worthy of inclusion in the proverbial "hall of fame" of memorable scenes; the only thing I missed while watching them was an involuntary "Holy shit!". Another thing worth praise is the interestingly portrayed atmosphere of the near future: bleak and troubled, free from exaggerated technological trappings, but with an emphasis on one of the expected future problems of Western civilization, which is already beginning to rear its ugly head (see this year's events in France), namely the problem of illegal immigrants and the related rise of xenophobia. Clive Owen is a very charismatic guy and a good actor, I'm rooting for his current status as a major leading man, just a shame that in his case it didn't come sooner. (29/12/2006)