A Crafty Political Thriller

Rating: 8/10 (22 October 2006)

The Wachoski brother's have come back strong with this one. Although I usually reject on principle science fiction that is culturally stylized after days gone by and did so at the beginning of this movie, but then I found that it truly seems to work in this picture. It's the revival of the classical take on democracy and freedom through the collected black listed material of V and other secretive rebels that lends such authenticity to the backdrop. Other things this movie had going for it: one, a musical rhythm that saturated the pacing of the plot from beginning to end with metaphors for music with the explosions and then again with actual music; two, very artistically driven characters, a trait which gathers sympathy for the rebels (before you even know how they have been subverted or why we should feel for them) by appealing to the emotional side of the brain; three, a very nuanced, intricate and layered diegesis with false characters and hazy pasts; and four, timing, as in being in the right place in the right time with all the unclear (at the very least) dealings of our governments (both British and American). These elements come together to create a stellar politically driven science fiction film which makes it important, not just in movie history but in narrative history in general. And the Performances . . . all were of certain caliber not often seen in movies these days.