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Clive Owen protects the future of humanity.

I’ve written about this one before, in one of my ‘best of’ year end posts. I said: A truly great work of science fiction, based on P.D. James’ novel, that creates a chilling and utterly believable future world where women have stopped giving birth and the human race is slowly dying, populates it with interesting characters, and pulls us along in a propulsive and thrilling storyline. Director Alfonso Cuaron brings several vivid sequences to life, including an astonishing one-take action scene that is one of the best recent examples of pure cinema.

All I have to add is that the film features one of Clive Owen’s best performances and that Michael Caine is truly moving in a memorable supporting role. The film’s dystopian world is intricately and convincingly detailed, showing a decaying world, yet there is a streak of hope and humanity that runs through it. By the time we get to the end of the story, we feel that we’ve been through hell, that the world has gone to shit, yet it is still worth saving.

Cuaron adds many interesting touches in directing the film, often shooting action sequences in continuous takes using handheld camera. And there are some fascinating details to be seen in the design of the  film, including a sly reference to the cover of the Pink Floyd album Animals.

Children of Men is a fiercely intelligent, yet poetic and moving work of art.