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January 08, 2007
1020: "THE LAST ONE TO DIE PLEASE TURN OUT THE LIGHTS."
In his recent review of Children of Men ("Apocalypse (Not So Long From) Now" -
Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men is the latest cultural harbinger of the End of Days, of nature gone haywire and human nature following apace. Or maybe it’s the other way around. In any event, it’s 2027 and eighteen years have passed since the last baby was born on the planet. Humans have lost the capacity to reproduce, and no one knows why. It’s just something in the air. Or the water. Or the Zeitgeist. The point is: We’re a dying species, paying a terminal price for our arrogant sense of entitlement. The English have maintained a sort of order, but that order is (characteristically) pathological, the people in sheeplike denial, the ruling class progressively more violent. Into this vacuum of hope has rushed a Fascistic regime, which rounds up illegal immigrants—known as “fugees,” as in “refugees”—and imprisons the undesirables who aren’t shot on the spot in holding cages and emptied-out cities that make you think of downtown Baghdad. Children of Men is a bouillabaisse of up-to-the-minute terrors.
Watching it this weekend with Pete, as potentially laughable as this sounds, I couldn't help but think about V for Vendetta. Now, hold up -- stay with me on this one...
The English have maintained a sort of order, but that order is (characteristically) pathological, the people in sheeplike denial, the ruling class progressively more violent. Into this vacuum of hope has rushed a Fascistic regime...
Does that not sound like V's London -- or, at least, the London V deserved?
I know not all of you understand my affection for the movie or the graphic novel, but if you can look past some of the admittedly goofy points and stomach Natalie Portman's ever-changing psuedo-English accent ("Buiwldings!"), you should be able to appreciate that there's something there worth liking. You'd think that being allowed only one facial expression would hinder Hugo Weaving's ability to play V, but ultimately his performance was hindered by the fact that however sinister and cunning V was in the graphic novel, he'd been reduced to a bit of a fool in the screenplay. (All credit due to Weaving's being completely and utterly awesome for overcoming this damage with grace and charm.)
I really, really, REALLY don't think anyone ever needed to see him dancing around in his cozy kitchen in a sissy-pants apron. That just... I mean, that's just profoundly wrong; it spawned all sorts of vaguely disturbing, cosplay-nutty fantasies that -- at least for a few weeks last year -- seemed to infect The Internets with a giddy, fan-girl stupidity. Wasn't V likable enough? I mean, I may be meeting Le Chiffre later for drinks and a good-natured game of Go Fish, but am I wrong to have preferred the harder, more vicious V that Alan Moore envisioned? How could anyone not fall head-over-heels for a shadowy, hideously disfigured guy who introduces himself with old Stones lyrics? What's not to love? Yeah! Let's blow up some 'buiwldings! Yehaw!
If V's motivations seemed a bit unexplored and ridiculous, that was in part due to the fact that his character's viciousness was toned down for the movie. Instead of ditching Evey in a gutter (frankly, like she deserves), he's been forced to dance around like Errol Flynn minus the curls. But perhaps more than the treatment of his character, it's the presentation of his environment that does the most damage to V. Evey works for jerks but her situation isn't sufficiently troubling. London doesn't seem that bad, frankly. V for Vendetta's London should have been more like Children of Men's London -- it had dank alleyways and a few uniforms, but it didn't have enough menace and tangible anxiety. It needed to be roughed up and hardened, but then again, so did V. It needed to be, as Eldstein puts it, a place "where evil flourishes because good men do nothing." It's kind of a shame, really.
I won't spoil Children of Men for any of you who intend to see it, but aside from a few problems ("The plot makes sense only if you don’t loiter over it," says Eldstein) we enjoyed it. I hadn't read the book so I didn't know too much about the plot aside from what I'd read about it; frankly, based on the teaser trailer we'd seen a few months ago, I didn't really intend on seeing it. It looked a bit too righteous for me, and I mistook Clive Owen's expression in one moment for something like "childlike wonder." In hindsight, the look was "complete physical agony." My mistake!
On a semi-related note, we saw a trailer for Lucky You -- a new film with Eric Bana. I don't think we'll be seeing that, particularly because Pete can't stand another Poker-themed movie in which the "tell" is explained. Also, my mind cannot grasp that Eric Bana is not a) in the Mossad or b) a Delta Force operator. I am aware that he is a charming Australian with a background in comedy, but I also believe he has killed before and will kill again.
The comedian-turned-actor thing is obviously just a clever cover. Duh!
People not operating under a cover include the late Big Edie and Little Edie. After having enjoyed Grey Gardens the other weekend, we followed up with The Beales of Grey Gardens. I love these ladies. If only Little Edie were still around, I'd really love to have her come over and act as stylist for a bit. I've re-entered that awkward "maybe I'll grow my hair out" phase again but lack the patience to see it through -- maybe all I need is a towel pinned to my head with a little dramatic flair to get me through the bad-hair months ahead of me until I achieve Crystal Gayle-length hair. Maybe. Just maybe.
(To Alan: If you see Casino Royale a 4th time, I will be a little bit crushed. You see, what was once giddy anticipation became sheer joy with the 1st viewing. The 2nd brought me trembling excitement. The 3rd brought me a tinge of shame, as I began to fear the blatant judgment of others. The 4th enabled me to transcend my shame (slightly) and filled me with perverse pride. If you see it a 4th time and put us neck-and-neck, I will have to see it a 5th time -- nevermind the unrestrained judging I'll receive from everyone else in my life. I will do it. It may cost me the respect of those I love but I have my pride!)
Posted by ashley at January 8, 2007 06:18 AM
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