A technically proficient post-apocalyptic dystopia

Rating: Null/10 (8 January 2007)

NOTE: Rather than pointing out things already described in triplicate by other movie reviews, I opted to mention elements of the film that were not exhaustively discussed, yet made the movie better. Also, my review would not make much sense without giving context to the back story. As such, I will try my best not to reveal any actual plot or spoilers. This section will be enclosed within -----'s
Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men ties elements of sci-fi, war, and human drama very cohesively. To that end, the film evokes the same moods as films like 1984, Schindler's List, and Saving Private Ryan while still feeling totally refreshing.
----- Based (very) loosely upon a 1992 novel by P.D. James, Children of Men takes place in 2027 in a world torn apart by global terrorism and pollution. Most of the major cities around the world have been ravaged for some reason or another (mostly nuclear), causing "foogies" to flee to Great Britain. Britain is one of the only countries that hasn't collapsed under the strain of the world and maintains its position by maintaining a very hostile disposition towards outsiders. Worsening the matters is an unexplainable infertility pandemic that has crippled the human race for 18 years. -----
One of the first things I noticed about the movie is, despite being 20 years later, the movie had a very present feel to it. Unlike other films that take place in the near future, this movie feels that time has progressed in a very deliberate pace. The streets of London feel like they would now, save for a few subtle technological advances. Technology advancement has always been a prominent element in conveying the theme and I thank Cuarón for not beating a dead horse. Several of today's topics in the world today are also integrated into the film. Terrorism (there's more than one type), the Iraq War, environmental degradation are all prevalent and their effects on the world in the future. In the end, the film has a certain plausibility to it versus the more abstract and detached settings in most Science Fiction film.
Another element that stuck out in my mind is the use of non-verbal exposition incorporated into the film. Much of the back story and overall mood is filled in by showing news clippings, TV news reports, capture and internment of refugees along the London streets, etc. While most films of this scope require direct explanation, Children of Men does an excellent job at wiring these things directly into the movie.
Cuarón also filmed extended takes for the movie. There are two very prominent scenes in the movie, one taking place inside a car and another on foot amidst a large battle, that were executed beautifully. The car scene employed a camera system inside the car that could swivel around and even traverse through the front windshield. This scene was also filmed in one uncut shot. The other employed a hand cam system that followed Clive Owen's character through city streets, through an apartment building, and back out using only 5-6 cuts. Did I neglect to mention that both of them were choreographically rich and employed approximately 20 and 50 actors respectively? Scenes of this magnitude are never technically sound without the use of major cutting, so I again congratulate Cuarón for his virtuosity.
While most of my praises were for the technical aspects of the film, the movie, as a whole, was excellent. The plot was very conventional, but enriched by the diverse cast of characters. Michael Caine as a strawberry pot smoking neo-hippie will always stand out in my mind. Peter Mullan as Syd brings a cheeky sense of humor as a corrupt internment camp officer. Clive Owen did a good job mixing dramatic and thriller/action acting, which he can probably chalk up to his roles in Closer, Sin City and even possibly BMW Films' The Hire (although I'm probably reaching out here).
In the end, I was very satisfied with the movie. It felt similar while still being completely new. To that end, I'm really interested in what Cuarón has to offer next.