Children of Men

Theatrical Release Date: 2006 12 25 (USA - Limited) / 2007 01 05 (USA)

UPC: 025193251329

Studio: Universal Studios

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Violence, Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity, Drug Content]

Summary: Y Tu Mam? Tambi?n and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuar?n returns to the helm to tell this futuristic tale in which society is without hope since humankind lost its ability to procreate. The year is 2027, and women can no longer give birth. The youngest inhabitant of the planet has just died at the age of 18, and all hope for humanity has been lost. As civilization descends into chaos, a dying world finds one last chance for survival in the form of a woman who has become inexplicably pregnant. Now, as warring nationalistic sects clash and British leaders try to maintain their totalitarian stronghold on the country, a disillusioned bureaucrat (Clive Owen) is brought back into the fold of activism by his guerrilla ex-wife (Julianne Moore). Reluctantly, he takes on the daunting task of escorting Kee (Claire-Hope Ashitey), the refugee who represents humankind's last hope for survival, out of harm's way and into the care of a mysterious organization known as The Human Project. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Charlie Hunnam, and Michael Caine co-star in this adaptation of author P.D. James's gripping 1992 novel. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Category: Science Fiction

Awards: In Competition – Venice International Film Festival Film Presented – San Sebastián International Film Festival Best Cinematography – Venice International Film Festival Best Production Design (Runner-up) – Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Production Design (Runner-up) – Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Production Design (Runner-up) – Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Cinematography – Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Cinematographer (Runner-up) – New York Film Critics Society Best British Film – London Film Critics Association British Newcomer of the Year – London Film Critics Association Best Director – London Film Critics Association Best Cinematography – Chicago Film Critics Association Best Cinematography – Las Vegas Film Critics Association Best Picture – Phoenix Film Critics Association Best Director – Utah Film Critics Best Cinematography – National Society of Film Critics Best Director – Austin Film Critics Best Adapted Screenplay – Austin Film Critics Best Cinematography – Austin Film Critics Best Picture – Austin Film Critics Best Picture – Online Film Critics Association Best Director – Online Film Critics Association Best Adapted Screenplay – Online Film Critics Association Best Adapted Screenplay – Online Film Critics Association Best Adapted Screenplay – Online Film Critics Association Best Adapted Screenplay – Online Film Critics Association Best Adapted Screenplay – Online Film Critics Association Best Cinematography – Online Film Critics Association Best Editing – Online Film Critics Association Best Editing – Online Film Critics Association Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion – Black Reel Awards Best Supporting Actress – Black Reel Awards Best Cinematography – American Society of Cinematographers Best Cinematography – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Visual Effects – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Visual Effects – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Visual Effects – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Visual Effects – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Production Design – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Production Design – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Production Design – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Art Direction in a Fantasy Film – Art Directors Guild Best Art Direction in a Fantasy Film – Art Directors Guild Best Cinematography – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Editing – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Editing – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Adapted Screenplay – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Adapted Screenplay – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Adapted Screenplay – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Adapted Screenplay – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Adapted Screenplay – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Supporting Actor – Black Reel Awards

Features: The Possibility of Hope: Alfonso Cuar?n's documentary on how the revolutionary themes in Children of Men relate to our modern-day society
Under Attack: Discover how the filmmakers created the film's most dangerous scenes
Children of Men comments by Slavoj Zizek
Deleted scenes
Theo & Julian: Get the inside story from Clive Owen and Julianne Moore
Futuristic Design: From concept to creation, see how director Alfonso Cuar?n's dynamic vision of the future was brought to life

Children of Men

Format: DVD

Release Date: 03/27/2007

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 110 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,Spanish,French

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Children of Men
1. Baby Diego [7:17]
2. Strawberry Cough [3:44]
3. Kidnapped [5:41]
4. "In the Court of the Crimson King" [4:23]
5. Transit Papers [4:45]
6. Old Tricks [4:27]
7. Only Trust You [7:05]
8. The Safe House [5:10]
9. Making an Exit [4:53]
10. Faith and Chance [7:56]
11. Breaking In [4:54]
12. Waiting for Syd [6:44]
13. Prison [4:44]
14. Miraculous Birth [4:32]
15. Escape Route [1:59]
16. Reasonable Accommodations [2:55]
17. The Uprising [2:28]
18. Cease-Fire [7:35]
19. Tomorrow [3:21]
20. End Titles [5:29]

Jason Buchanan

Conjure up your bleakest vision of the world fallen into an uncontrollable spiral of chaos, add in a grim speculative sci-fi twist, and then watch as those images burn to vivid life in a striking, affecting, and viciously beautiful tale of glimmering hope in a land of terminal despair. The concept may be as thin as a razor, yet it cuts to our most basic fears for the future: humankind has lost the ability to procreate, and when a pregnant London immigrant is discovered by a group of "terrorists," the group takes it upon themselves to smuggle her into the care of a secretive organization working against the government's will to save the human race. A jarring intro effectively pulls the safety net out from under the audience and lets us know how ugly a place the world has truly become, offering an explosive introduction to London circa 2027. A glance at the news shows that the major cities of every nation have all become Baghdad. "The World Has Collapsed" trumpets the television newscast as a sickening flood of death and destruction washes across the screen, and anyone who felt their heart skip a beat on 9/11 will most certainly feel the emotional impact of such a sensationalistic -- but in this fictional universe, entirely valid -- claim. The race is on to ensure that the first baby to be born in 18 years isn't subjected to the harsh glare of the media circus or the cruel scrutiny of government scientists, and though he may seem a most unlikely hero, dejected alcoholic bureaucrat Theodore Faron (Clive Owen) dutifully assumes the responsibility of escorting the frightened mother-to-be to the mythical "Human Project" in hopes that the scientists there will be able to solve humankind's darkest mystery. Seldom has an onscreen hero been more identifiably human than as portrayed by Owen, and as Theodore takes a shot from the bottle to numb the pain, argues with his activist ex-wife about their tragic past, or shelters his frightened charge as the pair makes their way through a gauntlet of crumbling concrete and gunfire, it's easy for the viewer to sympathize with his pain as well as his determination. Theo isn't a self-righteous savior, but an honest and broken man who simply knows what's at stake with the birth of this "miracle" child. Likewise, the supporting players all turn in exceptional performances -- from Julianne Moore's damaged do-gooder to Chiwetel Ejiofor's misguided "terrorist" leader, and the virtually unrecognizable Charlie Hunnam's dreadlocked, trigger-happy gunman, it's obvious that the cast members have truly invested themselves in their onscreen counterparts. Despite his relative lack of screen time, however, it's screen veteran Michael Caine who truly steals the show as off-the-grid, strawberry-ganja-smoking weed-slinger Jasper Palmer -- an aging neo-hippie who, as Theo's trusted confidante, injects just the right amount of humor and gravity into the proceedings. While for many filmmakers and screenwriters it can be a daunting task to paint a realistic vision of the future, Alfonso Cuar?n works well with his team of scribes to keep things grounded in a reality that is both recognizable and relatable -- no flying cars here, though there are some fancy computer monitors and the automobiles feel just advanced and unreliable enough to make them believable. Despite these minor advances, it truly does feel as if society and technological innovation ground to a halt when humankind discovered that their days on the planet were numbered. Emmanuel Lubezki's exceptional use of fluid, handheld photography places the viewer in the back seat of a car being attacked by terrorists and in the war-torn streets of a refugee camp under attack from the military with documentary-like believability. Lubezki's filming techniques, combined with the smart editing of director Cuar?n and Alex Rodriguez, offer a haunting fluidity that serves well to compliment the intensity of the powerful and sometimes jarring material. Subtle but strikingly effective use of computer-generated effects compliments the story well by remaining largely understated, while the affecting use of sound in one key third-act scene provides a moving auditory accompaniment to a pivotal event. The impressive soundtrack features selections from such diverse musical artists as John Lennon, King Crimson, the Kills, and the Libertines, lending the film a timeless urgency that will equally affect viewers both young and old. Still, the commendable technical achievements of the film wouldn't really matter if Children of Men didn't have something truly compelling to say. In addition to challenging the audience's perception of our current reality (what truly constitutes a "terrorist"?) and offering a cautionary glance into a dark future of last-gasp authoritarianism run rampant, Children of Men presents a truly thought-provoking tale told in a remarkably absorbing manner. While some viewers may be put off by the unrelenting despair at the surface level, those with some degree of optimism about humankind's uncertain fate on this planet will discover a remarkably powerful film: one in which darkness belies delicate hope for -- and ultimately in -- humanity. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Marc Abraham  Producer 
Armyan Bernstein  Executive Producer 
Alfonso Cuarón  Director 
Alfonso Cuarón  Screenwriter 
Timothy J. Sexton  Screenwriter 
Iain Smith  Producer 
Eric Newman  Producer 
Thomas A. Bliss  Executive Producer 
Hilary Shor  Producer 
David Arata  Screenwriter 
John Tavener  Composer (Music Score) 
Mark Fergus  Screenwriter 
Hawk Ostby  Screenwriter 
Tony Smith  Producer 
Troy Smith  Producer 
Clive Owen  Actor 
Julianne Moore  Actor 
Michael Caine  Actor 
Chiwetel Ejiofor  Actor 
Claire-Hope Ashitey  Actor 
Pam Ferris  Actor 
Charlie Hunnam  Actor 
Danny Huston  Actor 
Peter Mullan  Actor 
Oana Pellea  Actor 
Paul Sharma  Actor 
Jacek Koman  Actor 

Country: USA