Claim your Vendetta

Rating: 8/10 (2 June 2006)

In the world of comic books, many in the know believe that Alan Moore is the finest comics scribe to have graced many a paneled page, and I cannot argue with them. Responsible for some of the finest comic stories I have ever read, including the seminal series Watchmen, Moore has never been treated extremely well in big screen adaptations of his material. The attempts to date have included From Hell and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, neither of which were disasters, but hardly shining examples of great movies. Now, with V for Vendetta, Moore's source material has finally been given the cinematic respect it deserves.
V for Vendetta comes from the Wachowski Brothers of Matrix fame, although this time they are just writers-producers, turning over directorial reins to their longtime First Assistant Director James McTeigue, who makes his feature debut with V for Vendetta. Those expecting anything in the Matrix vein will be disappointed, because this is not a film about kung fu fighting and virtual worlds, it is a film about ideas and principals, with some controversial material at it's heart.
The film opens in 2019 London, where the world has changed. America is a cesspool of disease and England has become a totalitarian state under the iron-fisted rule of Supreme Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt). He runs a ruthless propaganda machine that provides nightly broadcasts from a media mouthpiece known as the "Voice of England", Lewis Prothero (Roger Allam), telling the nation what to think. Nightly curfews are in place, and it is after the curfew for the evening has gone into effect that British Television Network employee Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) has gone out to meet a friend. She is assaulted by government agents and rescued by a man dressed in a cloak and donning a Guy Fawkes mask, who goes by the name V (Hugo Weaving). V is out to destroy the London landmark the Old Bailey, accompanied by fireworks and the 1812 Overture over the city's loudspeakers.
After V's first act of terrorism, he issues an offer to England's populous: stand with him at the gates of parliament in one year's time to resist the government and take back their freedom. Meanwhile, video camera's that recorded V's first act has singled out Evey, so the police are attempting to find her, and V takes her into his protective custody, but she is uncertain if V is a terrorist or a freedom fighter. V is also in the process of murdering several key member's of England's ruling party, putting police detective Finch (Stephen Rea) on his tail, but he quickly begins to discover more than he bargained for.
V for Vendetta has at it's center a question that is arguably of more relevance today than when the original multi-issue mini-series was published in the 1980's: is terrorism always unjustified? Or is it sometimes a label used by those in power to stop the efforts of those attempting to undermine an oppressive regime. While the film is set in England, the issues at V for Vendetta's core are very relevant to Americans, going as far back as the American Revolution, and the events of 9/11 can't be ignored for recent volleys for this issue.
While not an action film per se, V for Vendetta has a few decent action set pieces that are well staged, but they are not the film's thrust. V integrates material as diverse as Hitler's Nazi regime, featuring swastika like symbols, jack boots, intolerance of racial, and sexual, differences; the infamous George Orwell novel 1984, with it's relentless pro-state propaganda and large images of the head of it's leader consuming television screens; and finally, film noir detective stories. It is this last aspect that doesn't really work well. At times the film's scenes involving the investigation of the murder of prominent members of the society is almost the central focus, but are quickly ushered off and the connection to the remainder of the plot seems at time tenuous; you know it's important, but the screenplay doesn't quite weave the material into the other aspects of the film's story.
The film's performances are mostly adequate, but there isn't really a standout. Natalie Portman, top billed, fills the role of Evey well, but is just good enough, not outstanding. The most memorable performance is actually Hugo Weaving's vocal work as V. The character never appears without his mask, so we never get a view of his face. The role was originally filled by British thespian James Purefoy, but he left over "creative differences" and Weaving took over the role, and since the actor's face is never seen, what remains on screen physically is a mixture of Purefoy, Weaving and a stuntman. However, the voice is all Weaving, and he deliver's V's often colorful lines effectively, making an impression without having to even view his countenance.
Overall, V for Vendetta is an entertaining and often thought-provoking experience, almost sure to cause debate in some corners, and rightfully so. The issues it raises are not easy ones, and many will undoubtedly be offended by some of the film's material. But, without debate, there is no greater understanding, and V for Vendetta entertains while engaging. What a fresh breath of aid that can be.