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V for
Vendetta |
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GALLERY |
OFFICIAL SITE
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Year:
2006 |
Rated:
R |
Runtime:
132 mins |
Starring:
Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, John Hurt,
Roger Allam, Sinéad Cusack, Nicolas de Pruyssenaere, Christopher
Fosh, Clive Ashborn,
Stephen Fry, Selina Giles, Gerard Gilroy, Gordon Gram, Rupert
Graves, Keith How, Forbes KB, Richard Laing, Ben Miles, Tim Pigott-Smith,
Jack Schouten, Cosima Shaw, John Standing, William Tapley, Natasha
Wightman |
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Directed
by: James McTeigue |
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Written
by: Wachowski Brothers |
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Based
on Characters by:
Alan Moore, David Lloyd |
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Music
by: Dario Marianelli |
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Movie
Studio: Warner Bros |
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Review |
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By Edwin Hopkins
Email Mr.
Hopkins
HUGE
In a New York Times article Alan Moore is quoted as saying, “I’ve
read the screenplay. It’s rubbish.” He was referring to his recently
adapted graphic novel V For Vendetta (with David Lloyd) brought to
the big screen through the combined efforts of producer Joel Silver,
James McTeigue and the Wachowski brothers. Moore has never had a
problem voicing his dismay about Hollywood butchering his material.
He was gravely dissatisfied with 20th Century Fox’s version of his
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. |
| I’ m really sorry he feels this way about Vendetta.
I enjoyed it immensely being an avid partizan of iconic radicals
such as Robin Hood and Zorro of which V, despite his over-the-top
“activities”, qualifies as a fellow member. Despite the apparent
differences between the film and Moore’s book, the movie itself
conveys a strong warning to never as much as entertain the thought
of a fascist state and that terrorists and freedom fighters are not
synonymous (depending on one’s perspective).
Still, the film dredges up some post 9/11 jitters all, if not
most of us may be disturbed by. Revolutionaries have almost always
gone to extremes to convey a message. Guy Fawkes confirms this in
Vendetta’s prologue, attempting to blow up the British Parliament on
November 5th 1605. 425 years later (V is set 20 years in the
future), Great Britain is now a fascist state and another lone
rebel, V, is just as extreme, which explains the Fawkes mask he
wears throughout. We all want justice and equality. But how far
should we go to achieve it? |
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| Natalie Portman’s Evey Hammond ponders this and
other questions after meeting our hero in a dark alley one night.
When She blatantly violates an imposed curfew by the Chancellor, she
is accosted by three policemen who plan to gang rape her. V
appearing from nowhere beneath the archway entrance deftly
vanquishes her assailants via martial arts and deadly, razor-sharp
daggers. Still frightened, Evey asks “Who are You?” to which V’s
response is so comical, she realizes that it makes sense. After a
Shakespearean speech coupled with an alliterative tirade of “v”
words, he finally tells her that she can call him V. She appreciates
him saving her life, but does this man have his circuits crossed? He
then, gives her a front row seat on the rooftop of the building as
he blows up Old Bailey at midnight 4 November.
The very next day, with a bomb strapped to his body, V enters the
television station where Evey works, commandeers the airwaves and
renders a charismatic outburst against the evils of the present
regime . Against a totalitarian government seeking to domnate
British society as well as eliminate “undesirables” (Jews and
African-Americans. Doesn’t this sound familiar?)And the many people
watching their tellys seem to be listening.
High Chancellor Adam Sutler, a remarkably odious John Hurt is
genuinely fed up with this rebel. “Gentlemen, I want this terrorist
found,” he spouts before his assembled underlings, his huge face
before them so overwhelming, godlike. “And I want him to understand
what terror really means.” He enlists the aid of the bureaucratic
Creedy( Tim Pigot-Smith) and his Chief Inspector Finch ( Stephen Rea
) whose deeper research into this case causes him to question the
administration he serves. Problem is, V always seems to be one step
ahead of them. Constantly.
It’s a travesty that Hugo Weaving’s face is covered throughout
Vendetta. Not that his performance is hampered by it. Not at all. He
conveys the absolute consecration of V to destroy this fascist
regime by any means necessary. He is driven by heinous acts imposed
upon him long ago that strengthen his inner foundations for the
cause he’s fighting for.
Evey’s subtle romance with V serves as a major character arc
which Natalie Portman renders superbly. She’s a woman who has faced
tragedy in her own life as well but has been reluctant to actually
do something about it. When she helps V in a violent situation, Evey
becomes his ally, seeking redemption for ignoring the things that
are truthfully wrong with this country she live in. Tyro helmer
James McTeigue has apparently learned much from being a 1st
assistant director on the Matrix films. You may even catch some
clever nuances related to this feature debut. He handles his
principal stars admirably, giving them freedom to interpret their
respective characters. Working from the Wachowski’s script, which
they had actually been working on during The Matrix: Revolutions
post-production, McTeigue has acquired a unique style I would like
to see more of in the future. V for Vendetta proves he is ready for
more projects.
Conflicts between individuals and society have always been
popular stories, true or fictional. They stir our hearts and minds
with anger, fear, hatred. Yet they also inspire hope, love and
eventual victory over oppression. V for Vendetta raises these
inescapable issues faced by our society. The question is, Do we want
freedom, justice and equality for everyone regardless of our
differences?
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Before and After: updates and
previews |
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Set against the futuristic landscape of totalitarian
Britain, V For Vendetta tells the story of a
mild-mannered young woman named Evey (NATALIE
PORTMAN) who is rescued from a life-and-death
situation by a masked man (HUGO WEAVING) known only
as “V.” Incomparably charismatic and ferociously
skilled in the art of combat and deception, V
ignites a revolution when he urges his fellow
citizens to rise up against tyranny and oppression.
As Evey uncovers the truth about V’s mysterious
background, she also discovers the truth about
herself – and emerges as his unlikely ally in the
culmination of his plan to bring freedom and justice
back to a society fraught with cruelty and
corruption. V, a r highly skilled warrior, who
starts a revolution alone, fighting the tyranny of
fictitious totalitarian Britain. Natalie
Portman is Evey, who is saved by a masked man, V
(Hugo Weaving). This charismatic revolutionary
ignites the revolt by urging the citizens to
overthrow tyranny and oppression. Evey learns
the truth about herself while trying to untangle the
mysterious background of V. She becomes an
unlikely ally in V's plan to cleans their society of
cruelty and corruption, and bring justice and
freedom to Britain.
V For Vendetta
looks to be a exciting,
well executed plan for a great film adventure mainly
because of the talent involved. Creators the
Wachowski Brothers, who are responsible for
The Matrix series,
and James McTeigue, who directed
 Matrix 2 and 3
and was first assistant director on
The Matrix
and
Star Wars Episode II,
for starters. Then their is the acting talent:
Natalie Portman, who charmed us as a young girl in
The Professional
and
Heat,
then went on to WOW! us with her acting skills in
Star Wars Episodes
I, II, III,
as well as
Garden State
and
Closer.
Hugo Weaving, also of
Matrix
fame, "Misss-terr Annnnderrr..son," man I love the
way Agent Smith says that to Neo. And of
course his portrayal of the stern Elf, Elrond in
The Lord of the Rings series.
The film is rounded out with, whom I believe to
be one of the truly great actors of our time, John
Hurt. His performances in
Captain Correlli's
Mandolin and
Skeleton Key
were nothing short of extraordinary.
I cannot imagine this being anything but a
classic in the making.
Here is some tech stuff from the Official Site.
 Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with
Virtual Studios, a Silver Pictures production in
association with Anarchos Productions Inc., NATALIE
PORTMAN in V For Vendetta, starring HUGO WEAVING,
STEPHEN REA and JOHN HURT. Directed by JAMES
McTEIGUE, the film is produced by JOEL SILVER, THE
WACHOWSKI BROTHERS and GRANT HILL from a screenplay
by THE WACHOWSKI BROTHERS, based upon characters
appearing in magazines published by VERTIGO. The
executive producer is BENJAMIN WAISBREN. The
director of photography is ADRIAN BIDDLE, B.S.C.;
the production designer is OWEN PATERSON; the editor
is MARTIN WALSH, A.C.E.; and the music is composed
by DARIO MARIANELLI.
V For Vendetta is a United Kingdom-Germany
co-production.
V For Vendetta will be released by Warner Bros.
Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. |
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Alan Moore with
a Vengeance
by
Christian De Matteo
Super
I've been a fan of Alan Moore's
writing for many years, all his stories inventive,
creative and exciting. Not once, however, have
they been able to transpose that magic of his
writing to the screen. Whether it was the
utter emasculation of The League of Extraordinary
Gentleman, the debacle that was From Hell
(admittedly a next to impossible story to tell as
it's book form, or the eternal screw job that is the
as of yet unmade Watchmen, Alan Moore has had far
from a good track record at his movies coming to the
big screen. |
| V for Vendetta, in my opinion,
had the littlest hope at a successful translation to
the screen. The book, one of his earliest,
while good, plods often, bogging down in the
political philosophies of the young and idealistic,
always cutting off it's own crescendos for the sake
of further political commentaries instead of just
focusing on the story. I always wondered what
Vendetta would look like if Moore wrote it today,
years and experiences and maturity later. |
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| Now I know.
V for Vendetta is terrific. The
Wachowski Brothers have written the tale in exactly
the way it should have been written, wiser in its
political philosophies (I have only two points of
contention which I will raise up after), stronger in
its action and much more streamlined in its
delivery. What a great movie. With
exquisite acting, particularly by Hugo Weaving,
who's face we never get to see but who, still,
manages to convey more emotion and intensity without
a face than any character (yes, my girl Natalie
included) in all the Star Wars prequels.
Natalie, meanwhile, is wonderful.
Strong, confident in the role, and able to find
herself both hearty and vulnerable when the
situations call for it, she shines on the screen,
crumbling terribly exactly when we need her to.
The tale is the oldest in the
book, the message that absolute power corrupts
absolutely. It is a cautionary tale about the
dangers of giving those weak humans in charge more
control than they deserve. "People should not
be afraid of their governments," V says,
"Governments should be afraid of their people," and
well put. The purpose of government should not
be to rule, but to protect, and to serve. The
only issues I have in the movie, are the two points
where the Brothers feel the need to zoom in on one
particular party, in this case the conservatives.
The movie would have been even stronger if it had
avoided telling the party affiliations of the bad
ruling class, favoring instead the idea that it
doesn't matter what party people belong to... any
undaunted, unchallenged leadership can be dangerous
because beliefs, no matter what they are, then take
a backseat to the lust for power.
Overall, despite the producers
untamable need to show their political hand and
somewhat subvert their own message, V for Vendetta
is excellent. Exciting, action-packed,
violent, thoughtful and far from a rip-off of the
Matrix movies. Rather than copying the style
of the producers hailed series, V manages to
re-imagine action without the trappings we'd gotten
so used to from Keanu and company.
I was wary of V for Vendetta, but
now recommend it heartily for all, of any political
persuasion, as one of the best and greatest
political and human cautionary tales of our time.
Beware all politicians, dear readers, for all can go
over the edge. |
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