Children of Men

Children of Men (2006) is considered to be a classic film in some circles which easy to understand at first glance. Its premise of a world where mankind has been left infertile is interesting and its use of ong takes(oners) is legendary. However, just because a project is lauded with praise does not mean it above fair critique.

The tale of a man seeking redemption by guiding society's last hope presents great potential for character development, but its let down by the dialogue. All lines are delivered with concise wording and a fast, unnatural cadence that ,at first, I appreciated for how it sped up exposition. The problem arose when it was carried over into every exchange because that is not how people talk. This utilitarian approach to dialogue ensured that every line was efficient and had purpose but also led to a lack of resonance for me because it caused them to never seem like real people, which is a major flaw for a story that is meant to examine the humanity of its characters.

Quick, unnatural line delivery ties into my biggest critique with the film: its pacing. It moves at a breakneck speed and rarely slows down, making it difficult to get immersed into the world. Children of Men's take on a dystopian society is interesting and worth exploration yet the focus on moving from set-piece to set-piece does not allow the characters or audience to linger in one environment for too long, limiting the opportunities for quiet periods of reflection that build immersion.

Most disturbing thing about this scene is how hideous that bag is.

To the film's credit the set-pieces are well done, utilizing great staging and camera work to make each one visceral. Director Alfonso Cuaron seem to have a great handle on how to use oners to further a scene's tension and sense of chaos. Art direction is on point when it comes to lending the dilapidated world a sense of realism and scale. If I was judging the film purely on its technical merits then it would be spectacular.

Though the premise is fascinating and the entire production is well shot Children of Men's fast pacing and unnatural dialogue prevented me from getting fully invested and immersed. It was an interesting watch and though far from a bad movie it ultimately disappointed in many key areas of storytelling. Not a regrettable viewing but can safely say it will not be one I return to in the foreseeable future.