Good but could have been better

Rating: 10/10 (29 March 2006)

Having watched the trailers I was looking forward to this simply because it looked so different to anything I had seen recently.
Ignoring the bad press reviews I determined to see the film and was not disappointed.
The dystopian story, as most people will know, is set predominantly in London during the near-future.
England (Scotland and Wales are not referred to.) is a police state. Of the rest of the world we know little, only that the US has collapsed into Civil War.
The plot centres around a mysterious but enigmatic freedom fighter named only "V" (Weaving) and his relationship with Evey Hammond (Portman). V takes Evey under his wing and proceeds to open her eyes to the true state of the world but at the same time she is subjected to his mind games.
The world-weary Inspector Finch (played excellently by Stephen Rea) dominates the sub-plot as he investigates the dark past of the party members that V is theatrically bumping off. In his attempts to find V, Finch is ultimately fumbling his way to a far greater truth, this is, of course, V's intention.
V's actions are civilian friendly but morally ambiguous; he mercilessly kills security men and former workers at a detention centre without remorse. His significance lies in the influence he has on the public, especially Evey and Finch. Both have changed by the end of the film and become ready to embrace a new future. Similarly Londoners, who once were blind or chose to ignore the problems of society gradually become aware of the "state they are in".
Weaving is outstanding in his larger-than-life role. Weaving manages to convey incredible emotion for a man constrained to acting a mask. Portman put in a good performance and I was pleased to see she has regained her abilities since seemingly suffering from an acting lobotomy in the Star Wars films. Though her accent is convincing it is clearly false and though it never slips the range of her voice is clipped by the need to maintain it. I also think it is too posh for one that supposedly spent five years in a "re-education centre", unless that meant she was sent to a private boarding school.
Rea's understated performance contrasts well with the flamboyant V and is perfect for the role. Also worth mentioning is Tim Piggot-Smith as the unpleasant Mr Creedy. John Hurt hams it up as the disgusting Chancellor and Stephen Fry basically plays himself, again.
Fans of the Matrix will spot the Wachkowski's slick stylish influence on the film as well as the indulgent script. People expecting the Matrix will, however, be disappointed. Apart from a well choreographed fight scene at the end this is a film about words and ideas rather than martial arts and CGI. They would perhaps prefer Batman Begins. Which, similar in many ways to V, has weaker dialogue but is more action focused. Having read the graphic novel upon which this is based I was pleased to see many of the ideas given expression on the big screen. Some elements of the novel have even been improved. Sadly much of the central theme of the novel has been abandoned and simplified for mass consumption. The main plot has been "updated" and I would say over-complicated to make it more relevant to the current situation.
Finally the film contains the usual problems associated with predictions of the future. For example why are they still using Dell computers if the US has collapsed? Technology (cars, phones TVs) has not moved on in 20 years. Evey claims she has not eaten butter since she was a child but everyone in the film lives in spacious London houses and have access to luxuries such as Champagne and Tobacco. These are minor irritations though.
In conclusion it was a thought-provoking enjoyable film but may suffer from being too focused on the present. It could have posed deeper questions about the themes which the novel is based around; Anarchy and Order, Fear and Love. Vengeance and Forgiveness.
Contact me if you want to discuss it more, or would like a link to the comic/website.
ingrey@hotmail.co.uk