Equilibrium film review

certificate_15

EQUILIBRIUM

In the mid-21st century, in the aftermath of World War III which saw humanity almost annihilate itself entirely, governments around the globe vote to outlaw emotions since these seem to be at the root of every conflict and dispute.

Citizens are given obligatory doses of Prozium, a powerful drug which shuts down the individual's ability to feel. Hatred, anger and jealousy are steadily eradicated, and peace - albeit drug-induced - descends once more on the planet.

However, as with any new regime, there are doubters and reactionaries who rebel against the system, arguing that all individuals should have the right to feel love, affection and sadness. Enforcers known as Clerics are subsequently hired to police the use of Prozium, ensuring everyone takes the daily dose.

Cleric John Preston (Christian Bale), one of the system's staunchest advocates, begins to doubt the neatly ordered world around him following the murder of his wife (Maria Pia Calzone) as a Sense Offender. Perhaps he should be allowed to grieve, and so, he secretly misses a dose of Prozium and is subsequently overcome with emotion. Struggling to hide his feelings from his zombified colleagues, especially his suspicious partner Brandt (Taye Diggs) and young son Robbie (Matthew Harbour), Preston finds himself recruited by rebel underground leader Jurgen (William Fichtner) to overthrow the rulers and restore love and feeling back to the people.

His quest for revolution brings him into contact with beautiful Sense Offender, Mary (Emily Watson), whose fate may be beyond even his control...

Equilibrium doesn't make complete sense and the script annoyingly skips over some of the background detail. How do the world's governments persuade their citizens to take the drug en masse? The film borrows mercilessly from 1984, Metropolis, Bladerunner, Logan's Run - and many others besides. Half the fun of the film is matching the action to the movie they have 'borrowed' from.

Wimmer directs the action sequences at breakneck pace, transforming each fight sequence into a Matrix-style skirmish of gravity-defying acrobatics and superhuman daring, which - while undeniably exhilarating - strains plausibility to breaking point.

He is ably supported by Bale looking every inch the action star, dressed in black and oozing menace as he wields swords and guns with skill. Diggs is a rather lack lustre nemesis, barely offering any resistance in the hyperkinetic final showdown.