Overt socialist propaganda

Rating: 7/10 (31 July 2012)

Usually, I prefer my movies to have a bit of subtlety to them. I dislike being hit over the head with overt, trite messages. Sometimes, when the rest of the movie is done well enough, I'm willing to overlook the lack of subtlety. Unfortunately, this movie isn't really done as well as I'd like, but it's still enjoyable for what it is.
The concept, as many people have said, is quite good: in the future, a corrupt system is put in place, where genetically engineered humans stop aging at 25, yet have only one year to live after that. Everything they buy reduces their lifespan, so most people end up living desperate lives in a near-panic, constantly attempting to find enough work to survive another day. The wealthy and powerful, on the other hand, live for centuries, with no worries.
The execution is a bit heavy-handed and clichéd. The plot is predictable, and most of the points raised are a bit simplistic. Of course, the antagonist is a mean, old, wealthy capitalist whose philosophy basically amounts to "screw the poor", while the protagonist is an idealistic young man whose charisma and daring acts of valor threaten to topple an entrenched totalitarian system that's been stable for over a century.
Still, I like Niccol's work, even if it does get a bit didactic and heavy-handed at times. If he can work on making his movies a bit more subtle, I think he's got a chance at becoming one of my favorite directors.