visionary portrayal of what could be

Rating: 10/10 (26 December 2006)

Children of Men is a surprising, vital and fascinating movie portraying a future in which immigrant-phobia becomes malignant. Without reviewing the story here, the script is an extraordinarily timely one, taking to the extreme a possible scenario resulting from extreme "Homeland Security", and lack of understanding that immigrants are people too, something that is already happening here, and abroad. I particularly liked the allusion to the birth of Jesus with the concept that it was an immigrant baby that was the savior of the future of mankind, not to mention that the movie came out Christmas weekend . The scenes are stark, brutal and terrifying because of their realistic possibility. Of the actors, Clive Owen is spectacular as he goes from an apathetic man, having lost his child, and all hope, wandering aimlessly through the gray and crumbling city, to a man who cares desperately, for the new mother, the baby, and hope of a future. Michael Caine is marvelous as the quirky ex-hippie friend of Theo (Clive), and the actor who plays Sid is wonderful as well. Julianne Moore has a very small part in this movie...she didn't do much except play that pure good person she always plays. But, the character's early death in the movie made real the impact her death had on Theos' despair, and really added to the sadness of the movie. A wonderful script!!