By Marc S. Sanders
It’s amazing what drugs can do to you. Take them on a regular basis and perhaps you can maintain focus and discipline as an enforcer to a dystopian humanity. Then again, if you stop taking the medication, maybe you’ll open your eyes wider with an ability to nurture, care and appreciate.
This is the set up to writer/director Kurt Wimmer’s futuristic sci fi tale, Equilibrium. The immense action scenes look like a modified springboard off of what The Matrix provided. Be that as it may, at least the story stands on its own with an Orwellian inspiration to give it legs. It actually looks like an elder stepbrother to that Apple Super Bowl commercial directed by Ridley Scott.
The best of a specialized police force is the Grammatron Cleric, John Preston (Christian Bale). Within the bustling city of Libra, large monitors periodically remind commuters to take their routine Prozium. This allows emotions and feelings to be suppressed. Thus, order is upheld. Jealously, for example, is ostracized from this community. The Clerics must heed to this program strictly as a means to live by example.
Still, even with most of the world population wiped out, there are factions and individuals who do not abide by this governance. Preston, along with large squads of heavily armed militia seek out these offenders and often discover their fix for stimulation coming from sources of art, literature, and music. Apprehend the criminal(s), and destroy the contraband they conceal under floor boards and behind plastered walls. The actual Mona Lisa becomes an early casualty of legal property possession.
If the culprits take up arms, they’ll be no match for the Clerics, especially the best of this class, John Preston.
Yet, what happens if John opts not to continue his dosage?
Equilibrium does very well at teaching this unfamiliar science fiction before exploring how it all crumbles. The expository opening presents an exciting scene of Preston’s methods. Later, it follows how the system malfunctions.
Miguel warned me ahead of time because about the only thing I feign at seeing in a movie is any kind of harm to a dog. A disturbing moment occurs as John experiences his “awakening,” and considering the value I have for a dog’s affection I cannot deny how necessary the moment plays here. It lends to the change in the protagonist’s character arc. It is a cruel scene but with anything that feels unjust, within reality or fiction, an event has to occur to pull our heads out of the sand.
The action scenes have a unique flair to them as the Clerics reveal firearms that dispense from under the uniformed sleeves ready to use for firing, but with a martial arts kind of gloss. While you watch it’s just plain cool, and Christian Bale looks great doing the stoic, less is more exertion to the moments. He’s such a good actor at performing choreographed dances of shoot ‘em up violence while struggling to maintain an uncompromising mentality this character is expected to be accustomed to.
On the other hand, his new partner, Brandt, is either drafted incorrectly in the script or miscast with Taye Diggs in the role. He’s a Cleric in training and an admirer of Preston. If the Clerics are supposed to be devoid of emotion, then why is his envy of this man so apparent. It’s Taye Diggs stepping off his familiar Broadway stage. However, I do not believe that’s what Equilibrium is expected to offer. Brandt seems to possess too much pleasure for his calling. Ultimately, Brandt becomes the antagonist who serves the greater power as his suspicions grow about Preston’s “withdrawal.” Taye Diggs and Brandt feel like they belong in another film.
Preston had a wife who disappeared mysteriously as well, and he’s left with two children who are being designed to perform like him. I found the kids to be too much excess for Wimmer’s script though. Yes, the son turns up at a crucial moment of discovery. However, after the children appear early in the film, their father does not associate or see them again until close to when the story is wrapping up. I’m certain the daughter had no more than one line of dialogue. I think it would have been better to excise this storyline altogether. It has no urgency, nor is it fleshed out enough. Why must John Preston be a father?
Equilibrium is an interesting sci fi amalgamation of George Orwell and Phillip K Dick constructs. There are some disturbingly decent ideas here and if you’re not careful you may find yourself comparing its designs to what some worldwide political climates feel like today. Don’t overthink it though.
It has some faults, but the action is entertaining. Fortunately, Christian Bale occupies the whole of the piece. The guy is just too dang cool, dressed in black garb with surprise weapons appearing from nowhere at his will while he twirls through the air with his arms outstretched and ready for fast moving combat.
Let’s see John Preston face off against Neo from The Matrix next. My god, that’ll make the John Wick movies feel like nursery rhyme programs.
Think about all the artillery and jiu jitsu.
I gotta lie down. The headrush is making me feel like I overdosed on Prozium. There was a time when I got emotional over things, wasn’t there?
2 UNPAID MOVIE CRITICS!!!! 