Political propaganda and unsatisfying ending aside, I thought Children of Men was a well executed, though-provoking film.
A mere 21 years into the future, the population has become sterile, infertile. Rather than exploring the reasons (medical or otherwise) for the widespread infertility, Children of Men explores the social ramifications of this threatening situation.
Children of Men explores a world that has lost hope. Even the thought of assisted suicide is made a point in this film. There is no future for these people. Theo Faron (Clive Owen) is a hopeless cad who is beyond pathetic (but who eventually redeems himself about 30 minutes into the film and becomes a flawed, but determined hero. Thank goodness, I hate not liking Clive Owen). That is until his ex-lover (with whom he separated over 20 years ago after the loss of their son) asks him to play "Joseph" to a "Mary" who she is trying to protect and get to an absurdly mysterious group called, "The Human Project" for protection.
Although the "Mary's" (the character's name is Kee in the film) conception was hardly immaculate, her pregnant in this lost and dying world is a miracle. The first pregnancy in decades. Theo then takes over protection of Kee and guides her through depressing, cumbling England and this chaotic world where bombings and shootings occur on every street corner and where the concept of govenment seems to have no meaning. A world where man seems to have resorted to animal-like tendencies and has only one goal, survival.
The camerawork is remarkable in this film. Rarely are quick edits used. There is an awesome scene in a car that goes almost five mintue with a single cut and it is one of several with similar lengths. The overall setting and tone of the film is bleak, as it should be. It really sets the tone of the movie. Before a word is even spoken, the color pallete in this film speaks to you and lets you know that this world is not one that any of us would want to live in.
Overall, Children of Men is an excellent film with acting that definitely deserves 5 stars.