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Children of Men
Alfonso Cuaròn's outstanding science-fiction tale about civilization in retrograde, Children of Men, has been issued by Universal as a Widescreen title (UPC#025193251329, $30). The 2006 feature uses its narrative drive as a distraction while it plants disturbing concepts not only about where society is heading, but where it is right now. Clive Owen stars, entrusted to assist in smuggling an illegal immigrant out of London, to a boat waiting for her on the coast. It is set just a few years beyond the present, but a series of disasters has led to draconian restrictions on foreigners and other elements of a police state. Shot on a modest budget, the film still manages to stimulate, constantly, a viewer's imagination. Co-starring Julianne Moore and Michael Caine, the film has heart, wit, action and drama, but perhaps its greatest accomplishment is the thrill it achieves as cinema, using the camera to thrust the viewer into the middle of the excitement and danger. Rarely interrupted with an edit, Cuaròn's blocking and Emmanuel Lubezki's cinematography are so dazzlingly elaborate that they continue to enthrall after dozens of viewings. It is that thrill which effectively counter-balances the generally bleak-although, in the end, hopeful-view of the future the film is offering. While they have almost nothing in common, it is interesting how emotionally in synch Children of Men feels with An Inconvenient Truth, both speaking to the same intellectual fears and genuine horrors of mankind's near future.Because Cuaròn's approach is so invigorating, the DVD is especially appealing. The letterboxing has an aspect ratio of about 1.85:1 and an accommodation for enhanced 16:9 playback. The colors are deliberately drab, and are conveyed with a solid accuracy. The 5.1-channel Dolby Digital sound has great separation effects and an engaging dimensionality. The 110-minute program has alternate French and Spanish tracks in 5.1 Dolby, optional English, French and Spanish subtitles, 2 minutes of sensibly (but still fascinating) deleted scenes, a very good, thoughtful 27-minute essay on where the world is heading (recommendation: buy property in Alaska), a 6-minute reflection upon the film's meanings by one of the philosophers featured in the essay, and 24 minutes of interesting production featurettes.
April 24,, 2007
DVD Roundup: This Week's DVD Releases
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