There are many, many things to admire about Children of Men but precious little to love -- I mean not in the traditional cuddly way of loving things. So thank you to the sound guy who made sure we heard the purring as Clive Owen, smoking some weed on his best friend's couch, absently pets a large and lazy feline. The scene has a terrific lived-in quality. You know that this exact moment: friends, weed, cat has occurred regularly for years. And thank you to the editor for another moment later in the film --a cutaway to a tiny adorable kitten eagerly climbing up Clive Owen's leg. So cute. I wanted to reach through the screen and take him home with me. The kitten can come, too.
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I just saw this film hours ago and the animal actors were a high point of the film. (Not sure what that says about the film - still processing..) So right about the lived in quality - well said.
I too just got home from the movie, and my initial ecstatic reaction is here, but holy fuck, Nat, this one blew me away. I was totally blindsided by it. Like, I knew Cuaron was capable of greatness, I liked Y Tu Mama very much and love his Harry Potter, but this, this is a whole other deal. I LOVED it. Like, I'm buzzing with love right now. I'm kinda pissed off cuz I have to get up early and I can't turn my brain off right now.
I'm gonna agree with ja. I've seen this film twice, and will likely see it a couple more times before this awards season is over. It's such a powerful piece of work. So many fantastic details.
it's definitely better the second time. You'll notice it moved up a grade for me. and it's the details that do it. just superbly imagined.
the thing moves so swiftly that it's hard to catch them all in one sitting but the second time through the details were great. but the pace is also a tiny bit of a problem for me. the ending felt a little rushed to me. like, oh yeah, wrap this up.
but i don't want to nitpick because everyone should see it.
i've said it before and will again: Alfonso Cuaron is one of the best directors in the world.
also the first time through i was distracted by having read the book. they're very different beasts.
though i would recommend reading the book because it's also fascinating and many of the tiny details you notice and love are really fleshed out in the book.
Happy New Year, Nathaniel. I saw the film last week with my "friend from out of town" and I must say I was um... distracted. Definitely need to see it again.
But in any case, I did think it was good. And I love Clive Owen. Gah!
My fave of the year too. And Owen was just brilliant. I'd definitely second Nathaniel on the value of reading the book. Great to see an adaptation not afraid to take liberties with (significant) details of the plot but still retain the themes of the book.
I think it's a superb piece of filmmaking but I just think some of the ideas and themes in the film should've been exlored further. I agree with some parts of David Poland's review.
Still and all, Lubezki has my vote for Best Cinematography (for a second year running) and I think Cuaron really outdid himself here. I'd give it an A-
Anyway, the presence of so many cats and dogs in the film perhaps served to make up for the absence of children for the people in the story.
I haven't read the book but isn't there a bit where people push prams around with cats in them? As replacement babies. And such.
Yeah, I saw this movie months ago and it's still with me. And it was one of those sorts of movies that had stellar individual moments and scenes, but they all flowed and the rest of the film wasn't just window dressing. It was really great stuff. Clive was great, Julianne and Michael was pretty good too. My favourite was Clare-Hope Ashitey as Kee. I gave it an A- back in October. Still do.
I agree in the sense that Children of Men was a fantastic film. I also did notice the bit about the animals, and I felt it was almost a reference to Theo's inner warmth (and potentially his sense of hope) beneath an otherwise desperate man.
Also, did you catch the Pink Floyd reference, with the pig hanging between the smoke stacks in London?
Just another example of how meticulously crafted this film is.
Julianne Moore is finally back in acclaimed movie. Sure, her role is small, but I'm happy for her.
I've been wondering, re: Children of Men...
How is Julianne Moore? Is it meaty enough to be considered a supporting role or is it just a cameo?
Juli's role is very much a cameo, IMO. But she does bring a certain amount of gravity to the role and adds some level of intrigue to her past relationship with Owen's character.
I'm just glad I finally loved a film,,,, what a masterpiece! the ending was so AMAZING! seriously the most poetic ending I've seen in years (some people are saying Del Toro's film has a great ending too, but I have not seen it)
*****/*****
Clive's so sexy, even kitties can't get enough of him. Man, I just want to "clive" on top of him. Har har.
The film is a wonder, and the scene you reference is perfect in its simplicity - heightened by the fact that "Life in a Glass House" is playing in the background.
Thank you, Emma, for reminding me that effin' Radiohead was playing over that scene!
I swear to god, Cuaron made this movie FOR ME, ME, ME. I love you, too, Alfonso.
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