A provocative and artistic science fiction thriller.

Rating: 7/10 (22 January 2007)

I will admit that I am far from the biggest fan of hand-held camera-work. The Bourne Supremacy's shakiness annoyed me to no end and almost ruined a great film for me. Here the camera-work is much better as it serves to make us a player in this provocative and artistic science fiction thriller. It took awhile to get over the initial shakiness, but then my sense of balanced kind of became attuned with the picture being shown.
Now that I have what has been called the greatest part of the picture covered and nothing to great to say about it, well my review would seem to be a downer on this film, but it a ways from it. The film is a top-notch science fiction film with the premise and dystopia society that is shown in the film. Once again like in the year's earlier release, V for Vendetta, the government is putting a full show of strength, but this film takes a few more hits at society, which I don't agree with, but I will let fly for the sake of entertainment. The biggest hit it takes is against immigrant deportation and the guarding of the border. It is a tough issue, but this film shows it in an extremely narrow view. The deportation is shown as brutal, inhumane, and a government cover-up, kick the immigrants out to appease the people. The immigrants are the scapegoats. Perhaps that is one view, but at least show the other side. Well enough politics.
I want to judge this film as science fiction film. It's entertainment value. It is a thrilling film. It is anchored by rugged Clive Owen, who has a problem with keeping his feet covered. He is an unlikely hero. He has lost his cause, his way, his hope, his child. Yet it is he that his former wife, trusts. Julian Moore is great if short in her performance. She is the leader of the group and the group that has found a pregnant woman, but she doesn't trust anyone, especially the government to take the proper care with pregnant woman and her child. It is a desperate situation in a seemingly hopeless world.
Among these dire and uncertain times Alfonso Cuaron, the director, has Owen's father portrayed by hippie Caine who adds a much needed sense of humor to this at times deeply depressing film. Caine is brilliant as usual and quirky although I didn't mind his musical taste.
While I point out all these great things for the film, I must comeback to one other gnawing problem. I had this problem since I saw the trailer. The premise always bugged me with the fact that woman can't conceive babies. The film offers no solution, although, no one seems to know anyways, although Caine offers several suggestions. I had a big pain accepting and buying into this idea, but by the end I had to some degree.
The film is intense thriller with a great sense of where it was, great concept design, great actors, and to some degree strong cinematography. But it had minor flaws here and that that made me question the reality as well as purpose of such a film. I would call this the artistic equivalent of V for Vendetta, which made it slightly better film overall for me because of the actors involved and the great characters they portray.