Not Your Typical Blockbuster

Rating: 9/10 (15 December 2007)

Will Smith, in my estimation, is an amazing actor. This movie simply drives home that point, for me. The fact that much of the movie has him alone onstage is a testament to that. But, I've got to hand it to the director, too. He refuses to hand out any easy answers. The flashbacks hint at the tragedy that befell Robert Neville's (Smith) young family, but don't linger overmuch. And Neville's erratic behavior totally fits for someone so alone for so long. My favorite scene is when Neville loses it because something is out of place in his city. It's terrifying and yet poignant. But, getting back to the 'no easy answers' assertion, I think the director allows two delusions by two groups to co-exist without validating either. Neville, in my opinion, is deluded when he thinks the "Dark Seekers" have lost all humanity.
BIG SPOILER I believe Neville is so blind to humanity regaining its status as the predominant species that he neglects to see many of his troubles stem from his kidnapping of a Dark Seeker girl -- which enrages her family/significant other. That fits the book's premise - that Neville is the last of a breed, killing and striking terror into those who represent the next stage of evolution.
He becomes "legend" with his terroristic actions.
The delusion of the Dark Seekers is that Neville comprehends the full extent of his actions from their perspective.
All in all, I'd much rather see this film again, rather than something like Juno, which purports to be a smartie, artie flick and flaunts its lack of scale and explosions, but is not an iota sharper. There are layers in this understated big film that speak to an intelligence not often seen in blockbusters. You can eat your popcorn and think, too. How cool is that?