CODE 46 (2003)

SHORT REVIEW: This film goes through more contortions to making its point than Michael Moore trying to touch his toes. Some folks think this is a great science fiction piece. I would be moved to agree with them if this was actually a good film. As it stands, this is a indulgent, self aware bore. Good things first. It is clear that a good deal of creativity went into constructing a reasonable glimpse into the future. Like Minority Report, the futuristic world seems within our grasp. While there are some fantastic technological devices, for the most part the world seems much like our own but with logical improvements, assimilated language and other seemingly organic developments. This is one of the great parts of science fiction, showing what the world could be like. On this front, this film succeeds on a level that few other science fictions pieces have ever attained. However, the film is still a bore. This is supposed to be a low toned, thinking person’s film reminiscent of David Lean’s Brief Encounter with a sci-fi twist. The problem with making a film with a slower tempo is that you have to make sure the heart at the center of the story doesn’t stop beating. That is the case here. After the excitement of seeing such a realistic and interesting world on screen leaves you, you’re left hanging out with Tim Robbins and sleepy English actress Samantha Morton. I’m not sold that they’re thrilled to be involved in the production, let alone having anyone else hanging about. I’ll cut to the chase. If you’re interested in seeing a very interesting look at the future, rent this film from your local library and watch the first half-hour or so. If you’re interested in seeing Tim Robbins and sleepy English actress Samantha Morton speak to one another in soft tones while pretending they have enough chemistry to pull of this story, again rent the film. If you find that you have a tendency to get easily bored by ponderous stories that you won’t be able to connect with on any meaningful level, go rent something else. RELATED REVIEWS: Other futuristic films Equilibrium (2002) The Final Cut (2004) Categories: film, movie, review, Tim Robbins, science fiction, scifi