WARNING - POSSIBLE SPOILERS
It's strange when a science-fiction film gives you a feeling of deja vu, but this is the case with 'Code 46'. The cool, unfriendly, Big Brother controlled future already appeared in many films, from '1984' to 'Minority Report'. Here, genetics engineering seems to be the dominant technology. World is being divided between a well controlled and anti-septic First World, and a Third World with sub-citizens left at their destinies will (nothing new, right?). The language of the future is English, with some Chinese, Spanish, Arabic and French basic enough for any viewer to understand. Tim Robbins is kind of a detective - profiler investigating a fraud with the bio-passes used to allow traveling from place to place. Samantha Morton is the main suspect, but Tim falls in love with her, although the love story proves soon to be in contradiction with the genetics and society laws. Although he knows their love story is forbidden, he will go for it - love defies reason - in a hopeless but so human adventure.
There are many things to enjoy in this movie like good acting from the leading actors - especially Samantha Morton. Although she seems here to develop the role from 'Minority Report' rather then creating something new, she is so fresh, vulnerable and different that I am ready to bet we will here much more from her in the coming years.
Director Michael Winterbottom succeeds in some of the external shots in creating some strong atmosphere of that future world, but overall the pace of the film is too slow and cannot escape a sensation of stiffness. It's a good movie for science-fiction fans, but not a great one. 7 out of 10 on my personal scale.
It's strange when a science-fiction film gives you a feeling of deja vu, but this is the case with 'Code 46'. The cool, unfriendly, Big Brother controlled future already appeared in many films, from '1984' to 'Minority Report'. Here, genetics engineering seems to be the dominant technology. World is being divided between a well controlled and anti-septic First World, and a Third World with sub-citizens left at their destinies will (nothing new, right?). The language of the future is English, with some Chinese, Spanish, Arabic and French basic enough for any viewer to understand. Tim Robbins is kind of a detective - profiler investigating a fraud with the bio-passes used to allow traveling from place to place. Samantha Morton is the main suspect, but Tim falls in love with her, although the love story proves soon to be in contradiction with the genetics and society laws. Although he knows their love story is forbidden, he will go for it - love defies reason - in a hopeless but so human adventure.
There are many things to enjoy in this movie like good acting from the leading actors - especially Samantha Morton. Although she seems here to develop the role from 'Minority Report' rather then creating something new, she is so fresh, vulnerable and different that I am ready to bet we will here much more from her in the coming years.
Director Michael Winterbottom succeeds in some of the external shots in creating some strong atmosphere of that future world, but overall the pace of the film is too slow and cannot escape a sensation of stiffness. It's a good movie for science-fiction fans, but not a great one. 7 out of 10 on my personal scale.