Epic film, and an instant classic.

Rating: 9/10 (10 January 2007)

I went in with low expectations, which might of helped, but I can't remember the last time I saw a better film than this in the past 2 years or so. This is a film in the Science Fiction category, but it's more of a Drama set in the future. Ill write this critique assuming the reader already knows what the film is about so Ill speak of it's positives and negatives.
The rare but not unique directing in this film is very much ala Kubrick, and ala Spielberg. Both used long takes, Kubrick mastered the tracking take and Spielberg the long take with extras and chaos in background. Cuaron' does a great job at doing this in 3 particular scenes and especially at the end with a 9 minute single take. The effect achieved with this method is ultra realistic, evoking a situational feeling which puts the viewer in the main character's shoes.
The acting was superb, throughout the entire cast, my favorite was Caine's character Jasper. I hope he snags up an Oscar just for some face time, he deserves it. I also wanted to elaborate on he atmosphere here. Managment of extras in this film was fantastic. People tend to forget about that aspect of directing. The setting is a Gothic future London and they really made it look depressing. I haven't seen such brilliance since Kubrick's Full metal jacket. COM has more action and epic-like war scenes that will give you flash backs of Saving Private Ryan.
Now some of the flaws in this film include shallow writing. It's a drama at heart. Little philosophy about god, religion and science. Few scenes mention or explain such topics, but the film doesn't really concentrate on what caused infertility or why the world collapsed and how. You will see the hate Bush signs and some violent Muslims parading with guns. But it's all in the background, and your journey is the main attraction in this film. The moral is about one thing. Everyone has a purpose, whether you contribute to chance, or to the will of nature.