Directed by:
Kurt WimmerScreenplay:
Kurt WimmerCinematography:
Dion BeebeComposer:
Klaus BadeltCast:
Christian Bale, Dominic Purcell, Emily Watson, Christian Kahrmann, Sean Bean, David Hemmings, Dirk Martens, Angus Macfadyen, Taye Diggs, Sean Pertwee (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
In a dystopian future, a totalitarian regime maintains peace by subduing the populace with a drug, and displays of emotion are punishable by death. (Netflix)
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Reviews (12)
I'd take those nifty sleeves and pockets, too... What would the world be like if we couldn't feel? Like this? Better? Worse? Would it even be at all? No, I don't want to know. I feel. You feel. We feel. And that’s how it will be as long as the last person breathes. A very beautiful film. Makes me think a lot – once the credits start rolling, that is. Otherwise, I enjoyed the spectacle throughout. The shooting and the hidden emotions. I hate strict regimes; that is, unless they're breaking down.
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The cult status of Equilibrium has indeed remained a bit of a mystery to me, because this film cannot deny its B-movie aspects even through a poor visual aspect, which in some passages literally stinks of a cheap action film, or with the script, which does develop a very interesting totalitarian Orwellian-Bradbury plot, but at the cost of cheap twists and not very convincing replicas. Even the choreographic aspects of Equilibrium cannot match the brilliance of The Matrix, the futuristic martial arts only look good in certain moments, while sometimes it looks like an excessively accelerated pub brawl. Kurt Wimmer really isn't a great director, and the strangled budget certainly didn't help him much, so his film gives off an uneven impression, cheap moments alternate with successful ones, and good pictorial compositions are alternated by crap. I liked Christina Bale the most in the main role. He does not dazzle, but he plays his role with an overview (albeit without Reeves charisma). Overall, Equilibrium seemed to me like a promising sketch, walled up by overly flashy B-movie crayons.
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Definitely a film for me that made me realize how scared filmmakers are of proper action sequences these days. Visual splendor, amazing music, great sets, and the final fight with the main bastard is a choreographed delicacy. I'll also mention the fast direction, the clever cinematography, and the really superb editing, especially of the action scenes. And yet the vision of a world without emotions – the filmmakers took on too much with that. From that perspective, it's quite a mess. That's why I’m not giving it a 5.
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A slightly schizophrenic mix of 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Minority Report and The Matrix. Some may like it, but it doesn't work together for my taste. The beginning was promising, though, an oppressive vision of an Orwellian society, with the excellent Bale as a cleric discovering his feelings. It had atmosphere, it had depth, but as time went on it became more and more of a mess, kept afloat by the few scenes of Bale and Emily Watson together. I wish Wimmer would make a proper action flick next time, because the final action sequence was excellent. PS: My wish was granted 4 years later, unfortunately.
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Today this is an almost cult-classic that makes the most of the excellent premise of a world devoid of emotions and the performance of Christian Bale, who’s incredibly cool in his role sporting a cold gaze that only a handful of actors can match. The Matrix-style action, however exaggerated and silly, is wonderfully entertaining and brisk, the story is lightning-fast, with a pace that doesn't let up for a moment. Of course, the term visual orgy fits this movie better than any other sci-fi flick, but director Wimmer did a great job, even with regards to the plot, which certainly does not disgrace Equilibrium, quite the opposite. In my list of sci-fi movies this one is ranked pretty high.
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Gallery (78)
Photo © 2002 Dimension Films
![Equilibrium - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/165/933/165933440_9bb239.jpg)
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