A technical and artistic masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (24 March 2009)

I've been a fan of Alfonso Cuaron ever since 'Y Tu Mama Tambien', and I particularly like his use of long takes - I find they give a brilliant sense of urgency and environment. However, with 'Children of Men' he's raised the bar not just for long takes but for political sci-fi cinema.
I haven't read the book, but apparently a lot of creative license was taken with this adaptation. Either way, the end result is very successful. Clive Owen (who I'm usually not to keen on) is great as the apathetic slob Theo, crow-barred into escorting the first pregnant woman in 20 years to a rumoured haven of scientists, and it's great to see a hero in a film who is clumsy, tired and a bit of a jerk sometimes.
I also love the fact that this isn't an 'issue movie' - this could easily have been an abortion fable or enviro-porn, but instead it's just a tale about hope. Pure and simple. Another director might have shown what happens to Kee at the Human Project - that doesn't matter. What's great about the story is it shows how Theo (the most apathetic guy possible) does everything he can to preserve humanity's last hope, and I think that's beautiful.
The long takes - oh my God. They are just incredible. For my money, this film has three of the best long takes ever committed to film - the opening bombing (a wonderful bit of scene-setting), the car journey (techincally several shots edited together, but the effects are so seamless it doesn't matter) and the infamous 7 minute long siege scene (a masterpiece of choreographed mayhem).
I don't know how Alfonso is going to top this (I for one would love him to return to Hogwarts again for The Deathly Hallows), but I hear he's doing a remake of The Witches - that should be brilliant.