Imagine a world only one generation from now where anarchy rules supreme and infertility plagues the planet’s entire population. The world’s youngest citizen has just died at 18, and humankind is facing the likelihood of its own extinction.
We talked about this film nearly a year ago in one of our “Looking Into the Future” segments, but after Enormous from Australia, one of our fan’s asked about it on the #083 Voice Mail show, I figured it was time to update everyone on the status of the film “Children of Men.”
The movie is set against the backdrop of London which has been devastated by violence and warring nationalistic sects (as has the entire world) and follows disillusioned bureaucrat Theo (Clive Owen) as he becomes an unlikely champion of Earth’s survival. When the planet’s last remaining hope (a young female) is threatened, Theo reluctantly becomes her and her miraculous child’s protector, getting them to a sanctuary at sea, where her child’s birth may help scientists save the future of all humankind.
“Children of Men” is directed and co-adapted by acclaimed filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron (“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” “Y tu mamá también”), and is based on the novel from P.D. James, who co-wrote the screenplay with Cuaron.
“Children of Men” co- stars Julianne Moore as the leader of an underground opposition group and Sir Michael Caine as Jasper, an award-winning political cartoonist. Also starring are newcomer Claire Hope Ashitey in a stunning performance and Serenity’s own Chiwetel Ejiofor.
The movie was seen at this year’s Venice Film Festival in Italy and received great reviews, acclaiming it a movie to put on your Top Ten Movies viewing list for the upcoming holiday season.
“Children of Men” has already debuted in Europe and comes to U.S. theaters on December 25, 2006.
I have seen this story somewhere else as well. Wasn’t this an episode of “The Outer Limits” or one of those other “The Twilight Zone” clones?
children of men opened here (the netherlands) a few weeks ago, and i can confirm, it is indeed a must-see film, if anything for the jaw dropping realistic production design. the portrayal of a bleak near-future is kinda depressing, but it’s very believable, and it will definitely leave the viewer pondering.
the direction and cinematography are awesome. sometimes the camera will seemingly follow the main characters for minutes at a time (through clever editing). sometimes it feels like a documentary.
i’m not a big clive owen fan, but overall the acting is very decent, and it’s nice to see that the director threw away most hollywood conventions.
as for the plot, meh, nothing earthshaking, but still okay.
all in all a great movie. go see it.
kind regards,
d.
It was the an episode of the new Outer Limits series that ran on Showtime… wow, I never realized it ran for 7 seasons.
I dug, I found… that episode was “Dark Rain” starring Don Franklin (Seaquest, now Day Break). Huh… and “Jeremiah” took the view from the older end of the species dying off.
I kinda miss Outer Limits. They haven’t put the entire new series on DVD yet, have they? Just released those themed collections?