"Everybody's children are so special. It makes
you wonder where all the ordinary grown-ups come
from."
- Samantha Morton in CODE 46
Combine "Lost in Translation" with "Gattaca" and
sprinkle that with a pinch of "Solaris"... What
do you get? An intriguing film from talented
director, Michael Winterbottom, called "Code
46".
I am going to keep this review pretty short
because I doubt very much that many people will
seek this movie out. It slipped under everyone's
radar during its theatrical run, including mine.
And I don't see it packing enough of a punch to
become a cult hit on DVD.
Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton are both very
good here. The film is set in a futuristic world
divided by those with "cover" and those "without
cover". Some people live in the cities and some
live exposed to the sun's deadly rays out in the
deserted landscape of the abandoned world.
Morton works in a place where she can forge
papelles, which are the key to traveling and
getting into the cities. Robbins works as an
investigator who is trying to catch the forger.
However, their first meeting sets off enough
sparks that he is willing to lie for her. This
lie sets off a series of events, which could get
them both in a lot of trouble.
I liked the film's first half. There weren't too
many movie premises more intriguing than this
one in 2004. But the second half lags
substantially, and although my attention never
waned, I felt that the film let itself down a
little.
Overall, I would recommend this film more for
the set-up and the solid acting than I would the
payoff.
©
Written by TC Candler
Richard
Propes' Comment
"Code 46" is
a film I loved watching once, but will never
watch again. Robbins and Morton are marvelous.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
N/A
