ALARIS' REVIEWS

14th March 2010
Children of Men (2006)

I don't like Clive Owen. I find him wooden, bland, and creepy.

I know, not the kindest or most relevant way to start a review, but I think it provides context to what follows.

Children of Men is a science fiction film set in 2027, in a world in which the entire human race has become inexplicably infertile. Despite the fact that Clive Owen plays the lead - a tired bureaucrat caught up in a world changing secret - Children of Men is actually quite watchable.

For me, Children of Men is essentially a mood piece - a psychosocial study in a world without children. The film is effective in depicting a planet in emotional decay, and the production values are excellent in creating an immersive, semi-post-apocalyptic setting. The style of the film is sparse and emotionally blunted, which suits Owen just fine.

As far as I'm concerned, not a lot happens in the film. Things blow up, people get shot, and events happen one after the other. However, there isn't a strong emotional arc, or great character growth. There aren't any deeply felt choices, cathartic heroics, or intriguing revelations. But Children of Men isn't that kind of film. To its credit, the pacing is steady, and some of the action sequences are nicely done.

Children of Men paints a convincing portrait of a thought provoking concept. Imagine a world with no more children.

Verdict: An interesting, underplayed hypothetical of a film.

**+