Equilibrium Movie Review:


Equilibrium is a low budgeted sci-fi action film about emotional repression. The elements of the film are mirrored from the novels Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, 1984 by George Orwell, as well as the special effects action wizardry of The Matrix (1999). Though the film is very silly at times, it is watchable with a feasible plot and enough ultra-violence to give you a headache.

The story takes place in the near future after World War III in the society of Libra. In this world it is unlawful to feel any type of emotion. Citizens are ordered to take frequent dosages of Prozium, which is a drug that contributes to killing away the emotions from the brain. The beings that choose to have emotions (by skipping out of their dosages of Prozium) are called Sense Offenders, and they are arrested and eventually executed for their crime. The reason that emotions are outlawed is because the thinking and emotions of people is what caused World War III. The law was implemented to avoid another war and to have the so-called "perfect society". The unit that upholds the law against the Sense Offenders are called the Clerics, and John Preston (Bale) is the best of them. Preston believes in the system and even let his wife get arrested for having feelings. However, after missing a dosage of Prozium, Preston begins to feel for the first time in his life. His emotions take over and he finds hope in the eyes of a beautiful offender named Mary (Watson). Knowing the risk he is taking, Preston tries to mandate his emotions in front of the society and especially his suspicious partner, Brandt (Diggs).

The concept of a law against emotions and a rebellion led by the once bad guy turned hero is what I liked about Equilibrium. However, this film has a lot of flaws, including some really dumb moments and holes bigger than the one's left by the bullets in the film.

I question many of the choices by writer/director Kurt Wimmer. If the emotions are outlawed in the society, then how do the humans have sex to reproduce without feeling anything? My guess is genetics or infertilization. Also, if the characters have no feeling then why does Taye Diggs' character of Brandt seem so cocky, he has to feel confident. There are many questions such as these that surround the no-emotion concept of the film. On the other hand, I think the concept works well in this post-apocalyptic film. The script turns into a typical action picture of double-crossing, gun fights, and the hero kicking major butt, but I found that the pacing of the genre was true to any movie or miniseries that you will see on the Sci-Fi Channel.

Wimmer's chooses to have the Clerics trained as martial arts fighters with guns. There is a lot of twisting, kicking and shooting flashing throughout the film, ala The Matrix. There are exact fight scenes in Equilibrium that are taken from The Matrix. An example is a scene where Preston takes out over twenty men that is very similar to the destructive metal detector shootout scene from The Matrix. Wimmer has also publicly denied that Equilibrium is in any comparisons to Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Equilibrium is about the banning of emotion, while 451 is about the banning of books, but there are similar concepts involved with the two art forms. Wimmer's action filled shootouts are at moments over done, but for the most part they are very glittery. The director does let the action be the spectacle of the film, but the story is still the focal point.

Christian Bale is cast nearly perfect as the new-to-emotion John Preston. Bale's presence and precise delivery contribute to his aggressive performance. Bale is a good actor that has delivered solid performances in bad films (Reign of Fire (2002), American Psycho (2000). I hope to see Bale get some better material in the future. Taye Diggs is on the backburner compared to Bale, but he still delivers an impressive performance as the distrustful Brandt. The great Emily Watson has really a cameo in a supporting role as Mary, who is one of Preston's subjects of healing. Finally, Braveheart's (1995) Angus MacFayden is pretty convincible as Dupont, who is the bad guy of the film.

Equilibrium is an action film that I believe most science fiction fans will enjoy. It has an interesting concept of dealing with emotions in the future. The film does have a lot of problems and is full of copied choices or recyclements from other sources like The Matrix and 1984. Also, the ultra-violent gun fight wizardry is loud and really in your face in my opinion. Even though there are many questions surrounding the film, the plot was workable.

Report Card Grade: C+

12/10/02
Copyright, Joseph C. Tucker

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