Children of Men

I remember reading P.D. James' THE CHILDREN OF MEN back in 1992 and at the time I couldn't help but think it was a homage of sorts to the great Doris Lessing. For an author whose work is mystery predominant the venture to the realm of political science fiction was an interesting one with favorable results. In Alfonso Cauron's film of said book we are left with but a mere skeleton of what I think James intended and under most circumstances this would be a bad thing, here though, it works. CHILDREN OF MEN is very much a mood piece, a cross between a horrific music video and a painting where the emotions are far more important that the story. There is a plot but the film is not dependant on it's resolution. There is action but it too is very much a play of movement in most cases rather than a means to an end. Clive Owen does some fantastic work here and it's great to see him interact with Michael Caine but again I must stress...even the actors are part of a tableux. Art is everywhere in this film, one of my favorite scenes involving the recreation of the famous Pink Floyd cover for ANIMALS. Those looking for concrete literalism would be better served sticking to the novel, those in wish of a visual feast, however bitter, will love this one.