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Director: Francis Lawrence
Screenplay: Mark Protosevich, Screenwriter
Sourcewriter: Richard Matheson
Musical Score: James Newton Howard
Cast:
Will Smith
Alice Braga
Dash Mihok
Running Time: 100 minutes
Story:
Set in the year 2012, the film is about how a
genetically altered virus destroys most of mankind. There are
some people who somehow remain immune. Robert Neville (Will
Smith) thinks he is the Last Man on Earth, a soldier/scientist.
He lives in a deserted and desolate Manhattan. He is trying to
create an antidote for the virus that destroyed the human race.
He has to contend, in the meantime, with hungry mutants who want
to eat him and his dog.
He is also trying to locate other survivors,
if any, by sending messages through the radio. The movie is
based on the 1954 novel by Richard Matheson and has been made
twice before: 1964's 'The Last Man on Earth', with Vincent
Price, and 1971's 'The Omega Man', with Charlton Heston.
Neville spends his time in the day in
Manhattan looking for mutants to forage for food and look for
mutants. He has his faithful dog, Sam with him. The mutants die
if they are exposed to the sunlight. Neville thus goes out in
the day and returns in the night and locks all doors and
windows.
One day, he is delayed and the sun is about
to set. The mutants release two affected dogs to eat Neville and
Sam. Neville manages to escape but Sam is bitten and is
affected. Neville is forced to kill Sam in a very moving scene.
One survivor, Anna, and her son hear his
message and come to the pier to meet Neville. Neville,
meanwhile, goes beserk after Sam's death and tries to kill the
mutants (as many as he can) by saying out after darkness when
the mutants come out. They almost get him when he is rescued by
the survivor.
She tells him to come with her to the colony
where there are some surviving humans. Neville tells her that
everyone is dead. She refuses to accept his statement and tells
him to come with her. She says in response to Neville's
questioning that God has told her that there are other humans.
Neville tells her harshly, "There is no God".
The mutants find out where Neville is staying
and attack in the night. Neville has just then finished his
first successful experiment with a mutant and cured her, but the
mutants are crazy and Neville ends up giving his life to save
humanity.
Review:
This futuristic science fiction, made at a
cost of a 100 million dollars, is actually a mix of sci-fi,
horror and the story of man's success against all odds in
surviving. It is an absolutely gripping movie. It is better than
earlier two versions of the story.
The opening scene is shot so well that you
begin to grip the edge of your seats. The end does match the
beginning but that's worth glossing over. The eerily quiet
Manhattan is creepy.
I was sceptical about the movie since it had
just one actor in most scenes and I was not very impressed with
another film where there was only actor, Tom Hanks, in
'Castaway'. All my misconceptions vanished with the opening
scene itself.
Will Smith proves once again that he is
easily one of the best actors in the world. Two great films
under his belt this year add to his increasing stature. The
other film this year was 'In pursuit of Happyness'. His acting
is compelling and intense. He portrays his loneliness so
brilliantly that you are fascinated.
A one-man show, this movie reveals Smith's
charisma yet again. The special effects are great and the movie
is also scary in many places. The ending is very poignant. Will
Smith's optimism is endearing as is his frustration at the
countless failures in his experiments.
The background score is well composed and
just about right for the movie.
It is a must-see film. So why I am rating it
only three stars? Because it has enough holes in the plot to
spoil some scenes. Yet, those do not distract much from the film
as the movie marches from one scene to another. If you like
great acting, fantastic special effects and have an ear for good
background music, you should not miss this movie.
The audiences have once again risen above
racism and given two thumbs up to this classy movie.
Final score: Three out of four stars
Sam Walker
California |
