"A Bleak Brilliant & Visionary Achievement, One Of the Years Best Films - A Must See"

Rating: 9/10 (30 May 2007)

In the not too distant future, women have stopped giving birth. No one knows how it happened, all we know is that it happened. The world is on the brink of destruction and only Britain remains intact. After word that the world's youngest person has died at the age of 18, a bomb goes off killing dozens of people in a coffee shop. Theo a former activist meets up with Julian, former lover and activist and discovers that a young woman KEE is pregnant. It's now up to him to get her across the dangerous road side in order to save humanity.
Cuaron directed the best Harry Potter film to date and scores again with his recent film Children of Men. Children of Men is one of three films directed by the "Three Amigos" the other two being Pan's Labyrinth and Babel. I haven't seen the other two but it would take something very special to take the top spot. As depressing and desolate as this film is, there is a message of hope all throughout.
Theo, the main character played by Clive Owen is thrown into a mission that could mean his life. There are dangers all throughout the world and the last thing he needs is to add more of it near him. Theo never seems to smile, other then when he is with Jasper, his hippie friend, played comically by Michael Caine. Caine does well with what he's got. Even though the character is suppose to be the comedic relief, Caine plays him with a bit of sorrow. Owen plays Theo with a calm undertone and is convincing as a man torn apart by one terrible incident in his life. It's a strong performance.
The film's pace is slow when it needs to be and fast when it needs to be. All the characters have one goal in this film and the film never strays from that goal. Theo must get this woman to the Human Project. There are twists and turns on the way to their goal, of course, but it never gets overdone with any subplots. This is surprising because a lot of futuristic films are hard to follow (12 Monkeys for example).
Without a doubt, Children Of Men is the most visually stunning film of the last 5 years. There are 3 distinctive scenes in which everything is simply breathtaking. First of all would be the ambush on the car. Although it's not all done in one take, it is cleverly edited to make it appear so. The scene itself is not only beautiful but thrilling. The second scene happens half way through the film, but I won't say what happens so I don't spoil it for you. The third scene in question is in climatic battle at the end that is stunning beyond words. The hand held camera adds more authenticity to the scenes in which we all feel like we are in this war torn world. That last scene is as scary as it is brilliant. Having Owen and the camera operator run through these dangerous encounters is wonderful. I can't praise this one scene enough. Probably one of the best scenes to grace the screen in cinema history.
The film itself is frightening in it's dark crisp vision of the future. Children of Men is a remarkable experience and an incredible achievement in film. Cuaron and co have created a future that some will claim is a clear cut copy of what we are living in today. Politics aside, this future he has presented us is dark. The film has only a handful of lighthearted moments, most of them are with Caine in his hippie state. Cuaron never sticks us in the face with the film's message, while films like Blood Diamond are heavy handed with it's message, Children of Men asks us to simply think about our future and what we can do to help it.
I can't say enough praise for this film and what it has achieved. It's not only a bench mark in film, but it's entertaining. With strong performances from everyone involved and Cuaron's keen eye behind the camera, this film is a wonder to behold. I urge everyone to see this film, even if it's just for the last scene alone. Visually pleasing and if you can handle it's bleak overtones you will enjoy yourself. One of the years top five films.