Recommended to me by... um... IMDB probably, I went into this film completely blind. Very impressed though.
Children of Men is set in a dystopian
future of 2027, where women have been infertile for 18 years. The
story follows Theo (Clive Owen), a former activist who discovers a
pregnant Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) and agrees to help her get to
safety, hoping the child's birth can solve the procreation problem.
From reading the synopsis, I can safely say it would not be a movie I
would have chosen to see of my own accord, but I was pleasantly
surprised. There is action, treachery, suspense and undertones of
romance, even if only briefly. Owen pulls off the role with
incredible capability, not crossing the lines to too dramatic or
emotionless. He managed to keep me intrigued for the entire time he
was on screen. Ashitey on the other hand, left a lot more to be
desired. Maybe it is my misunderstanding of her character, but she
seemed too happy considering she was constantly on the run and had
every chance of being locked up if she was caught, considering she
was a [re]fugee. Couple this with the fact that it was highly likely
that her baby would be taken away from her upon going public, and I'm
not sure where her emotions were supposed to lie. I could be barking
up the complete wrong tree, and she was just happy to have a chance
at escaping, but it just didn't sit well with the tone of the film in
my eyes. Michael Cane, Julianne Moore and Pam Ferris all make an
appearance, with Ferris doing the most for me. She plays Miriam,an
ex-midwife and activist who sides with Theo and takes care of the
pregnant Kee. I was surprised to see her, as she has defined
herselsf, to me at least, as an actress geared to an older audience,
with shows such as Rosemary and Thyme, and Where the Heart Is. Caine
provides the 'comic relief' as Theo's friend Jasper, helping him
escape from the activists when they are found in his hide-away house
in the woods. Moore, cast as Theo's ex-wife Julian, doesn't have that
big of a part, but delivers on a character she plays well, the
hard-talking boss lady with a slightly childish side.
This film proves that a movie set in
the future doesn't have to be overrun with zombies or be all
high-tech. I would whole-heartedly recommend this to anyone, even if
they aren't a fan of adventure/dramas. - 4 flip flops out of five
