Examiner Essentials: # 20 Children of Men

Universal Pictures

The Examiner Essentials are the movies everyone should watch, know and love. And if you watch and know but don't love, it's okay because you will still be an improved person for taking part in your own betterment. But the chances are, you'll love these movies. A list of all the Essentials can be found here.

Title: Children of Men (2006)

Director: Alfonso Cuarón (Y Tu Mamá También, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)

Starring: Clive Owen (Croupier, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead), Michael Caine (The Prestige, On Deadly Ground, Jaws: The Revenge), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Redbelt), Julianne Moore (The Big Lebowski, Boogie Nights)

ex-Factor: Top of the line digital effects. The best digital effects (and really any type of special effect) are the ones that can't be easily spotted and doesn't stand out. The effects in Children of Men are perfectly integrated into the film. Numerous video billboards litter London circa 2027, and they all look incredible and organic (especially as these types of video billboards, once only found in places like Times Square in New York City, become more commonplace in our society). Other effects go completely unnoticed, like the futuristic skyline that is fleshed out, or the masked transitions that give the illusion of a scene being done in one long take (more on this later). These effects are purely in service of the story, and really goes a long way to complete the "raw documentary" feel that director Cuarón and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki sought to achieve.

The Story: The year is 2027, and the youngest person on Earth, an 18-year old, has been murdered. An infertility epidemic has caused the world to fall into complete ruin, and the British government appears to be the last one operating at any capacity. Activist turned apathetic bureaucrat Theo (Owen) gets recruited by his ex-wife turned terrorist group leader Julian (Moore) to help a refugee woman through Britain safely, and it is fairly important to help this woman because she's the first pregnant person in nearly two decades. And with the pregnancy comes greeeeat responsibility, as well as a plethora of problems, and emotionally-crippled Theo finds himself right in the middle.Why It's Essential: Children of Men is a big genre mash-up; a political thriller science fiction story is mixed with a road movie and is told through a documentary-like prism, resulting in a fresh and unique movie. The production design of this movie is so strong that the world they created feels absolutely real and plausible. The way the camera follows Theo off a commuter train and down a platform lined with cages full of foreigners and then falls behind and lingers on the scenery gives a spontaneous "this is really happening" feel. And then there are the numerous "one take" sequences, long and complex shots presented seemingly without edit. The movie is actually loaded with extended shots, lasting about a minute or so, but then there are a few scenes that go three or four minutes without an edit, which is absolutely forever in terms of film. And then there is the seven-minute sequence toward the end, arguably the center piece of the movie, in which Theo navigates through a revolt in a refugee city, avoiding gunfire, eluding capture and sneaking into a building while the army blows it to pieces, all without an edit of any sort (seemingly). The result is a scene that draws the viewer in and is full of tension and suspense, which is amplified by the emotional stakes of the story.And this movie is about a lot more than just digital effects. Despite the heavy sense of dread and doom that kicks off with the very first scene. This is actually a story about hope and redemption. Theo no longer cares about the world, and seeks comfort at the bottom of liquor bottles and at his friend Kaspar's house (Caine). But when Julian draws him into their mission, and when he learns the full implications (and ulterior motives), something awakens in Theo, and shockingly enough he finds himself caring again, surely the first time he has felt anything other than hungover in years.Memorable Scene: The movie starts with a scene that tells you everything you need to know about how the movie's gonna roll out. People gather in front of a television in a small coffee shop, watching a news report about how Baby Diego, the youngest person on Earth, was murdered because he refused to sign an autograph for a fan. Much like the rest of the movie, there is a lot that can be pulled from this nugget of information. Mankind is facing extinction, yet that does not stop the senseless murders that people commit, hence contributing to their own demise. Then there's the fact that this person became a celebrity, not because of anything he did specifically but because of his coincidental circumstances. He's a BS celebrity, like any number of "reality" TV actors or sex tape starlets. And when this fake celebrity spurns a fan, he's killed for it. This is an obvious overreaction and says a lot about how people treat celebrities and public figures, and insist on holding them up to a higher standard and expect them to be of service to everyone at all times.As the news report is delivered, Theo walks into the shop to buy coffee. And he has to weave through everyone standing around silently watching the television. This is a quick commentary on public mourning, something that happens more in British society than it does here in the States, but it is not a foreign concept whatsoever (just look at the public response to Michael Jackson's death).Once Theo gets his coffee, he leaves the store, and the camera floats behind him and out the door. In one smooth shot, the camera exits and takes a moment to film the very busy street (giving us our first eyeful of this dying world), and then continues down the sidewalk and rotates around Theo, stopping shortly before an explosion rocks the store that he just walked out of. Another amazing special effect shot that services the story by showing the insane and dangerous world that these people live in. And then we get a very simple title card, white text on black, saying "Children of Men" and the movie is underway.Fun Fact: Nearly every shot in the movie includes an animal of some sort.