Well made and intellectually stimulating. Perfect entertainment

Rating: 9/10 (29 September 2006)

SPOILERS Jean Paul Sartre said that "Hell Is Other People". Taking the phrase out of context, let's ponder the annoying fact of life that children are there to annoy. So what happens in the world when there aren't any children? In Alfonso Cuaron's (Y tu mama tambien) latest film, unknown causes have lead to infertility across the world. With the increasingly popular basic camera style, "Children of Men" embraces the minimalistic approach. A beautifully filmed piece, the film is also well acted and superbly scripted. There are brief moments of infuriation, mainly in the middle part when the film drags briefly, but for the most part, "Children of Men" is a magnificent film.
Set twenty years in the future, we are introduced to the alcoholic, misery Theo Faron (Clive Owen). Living his life with a pinch of Jack Daniels in the middle of London, Faron is a character we associate with, before we even learn his reasons for his depression. When his ex-wife (Julianne Moore) kidnaps him with the aim of recruiting him to a terrorist cause, Faron suddenly finds himself enrolled in a mission for the fate of humanity itself.
Led by a suitably miserable Owen, "Children of Men" is a Dystopian story with a difference. Unlike recent additions to the genre, this is one film worthy of your time. If not simply for the beauty which is Michael Caine's performance. A rare gem, this is Caine's best performance in years. Playing a magnifically eccentric hippy, Caine's performance has depth and character of a quality often considered to be out of his reach.
Praise should also be reserved for débutant Claire-Hope Ashitey whose depth and character is vastly superior to the wooden performance by Julianne Moore. Her character is incredibly important, however Moore is so weak, we are relieved when she disappears.
When examining the film as a whole though, nobody is more important to the director and script writer, and in both cases Alfonso Cuaron deserves credit. A beautifully written script combined with sublime cinematography, this is Cuaron's movie. The gritty realism of the shot, the way we are forced to embrace the dirt and filth of the content, it is perfect. A similar style to "28 Days Later" and equally beautiful, this is a film the British can be proud of.
There are few films which have or will be released this decade which truly capture the fears for the future quite as well as this one. With magnificent direction, writing, and for the most part acting, this is a film I'd recommend to anyone. Well worth catching.