The Wachowski brothers have a firm grasp of visuals and a healthy respect for graphic novels. They also know how to write a script that challenges the viewer’s perceptions of reality. Put those things together and you’ve got V for Vendetta.
Here are my “tip of the tongue” thoughts on the film:
- The beginning almost turned me off completely. The alliterative monologue of V’s entrance left me feeling that the writers were showing off and that the movie was going to come off as trite or comical. Luckily, it got better.
- I thought it was a good choice to never show V’s face, and even to have his past erased. Even he didn’t know who he was beyond an artist in vengence. I wanted to know more about V’s past, but at the same time I know that would have ruined much of the effect of the movie.
- It’s an interesting statement on the blurry line between terrorism and freedom fighter. In the included documentary, Natalie Portman correctly identified his primary motivation as vengence, though, which is why most people feel some discomfort in cheering for him, despite recognizing the correctness of his political cause.
- Visually it was just hands-down beautifully shot. So many scenes come to mind as works of art. I don’t usually see a movie and come away thinking, “wow, that would be a great still shot,” but I can think of at least 2 or 3 here without trying. The final knife/gun fight was full of them – notably the shot with the bullets falling out of the revolver in close-up while two henchmen are taken out by knives in the background. That was just an incredibly engaging visual, that owes much to its graphic novel base material (as does the entirety of that fight, for that matter). Evey’s time in the prison had some memorable shots as well. Brilliant stuff.
- Setting the film in a future dystopia always intrigues me, but at the same time usually comes off as a bit heavy-handed, and this was no exception.
If you like your action movies to be (or at least aspire to be) high-brow, this is the film for you. If you appreciate visually exciting films (as in, excellent composition and cinematography), see this one. If you’re looking for a straight-forward adrenaline rush action flick…. while it has its moments, maybe this isn’t what you’re after.
Overall, I’d give it three and a half stars.
[tags]V for Vendetta, Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Wachowski brothers, The Matrix, cinematography, scene composition[/tags]
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