Beautiful

Rating: 10/10 (28 September 2009)

I have not read the novel, nor did I know that it existed until recently. From the moment I knew of this film, I was certain that I was going to watch it. I haven't seen other of Cuarón's works, though it has not been for a lack of desire to. This is what I consider to qualify as "the good type of science fiction"; taking a concept that we can imagine might come true, based on what we have in today's society, and using it for social commentary and exploration of, in this case, humanity. It is also a smart thriller, made for those of us who care about plot twists making sense and holding up. The battles are intense, involving and keep you on the edge of your seat, and the action is not the point, and it is never allowed so much attention that the audience forgets what it's actually about. This can get you to relax then promptly pull the carpet out from under you. It is surprising and dramatic. The effects are completely convincing, throughout. This is set in the not too distant future(with impeccable, subtle inclusion of technology that doesn't feel overly far away from what we have today, which is all credible and doesn't distract), where women have become infertile. Hope is difficult to come by, and chaos is omnipresent. The realism is high, and the documentary-like style is perfect for this, and the long takes are simply breathtaking. Acting is flawless for every single performance, Owen and Caine are marvelous as always. The characters are consistent and nicely fleshed out. This is immensely engaging. The humor is of an appropriate tone and amount, neither making this an overly light experience nor letting it get excessively bleak. There is moderately frequent strong language, some bloody violence and disturbing content, and brief nudity. I recommend this to, well, everyone, really. If you're old enough to take the material, and mature enough to understand it, go for it. 10/10