Children of Men [HD] DVD

Children of Men
Y Tu Mamá También and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuarón 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, All Movie Guide

Cast Clive Owen as Theo Faron Julianne Moore as Julian Taylor Michael Caine as Jasper Chiwetel Ejiofor as Luke Claire-Hope Ashitey as Kee Pam Ferris as Miriam Charlie Hunnam as Patric Danny Huston as Nigel Peter Mullan as Syd Oana Pellea as Marichka Paul Sharma as Ian Jacek Koman as Tomasz

Crew Ray Chan - Art Director Jon Bunker - Art Director Paul Inglis - Art Director Stuart Rose - Art Director Cliff Robinson - Art Director James Foster - Art Director Mike Stallion - Art Director Garry Freeman - Supervising Art Director Malcolm Middleton - Supervising Art Director Kristel Laiblin - Associate Producer Lucinda Syson - Casting Avy Kaufman - Casting Jany Temime - Costume Designer Terry Needham - First Assistant Director Alfonso Cuarón - Director Peter Hannan - Second Unit Director Alfonso Cuarón - Editor Alex Rodriguez - Editor Thomas A. Bliss - Executive Producer Armyan Bernstein - Executive Producer Graham Johnston - Hair Styles Laura McIntosh - Hair Styles Lorna McGowan - Hair Styles Kate Benton - Hair Styles Jamie Lengyel - Location Manager Nick Fulton - Location Manager Charlotte Wright - Location Manager Simon Crook - Location Manager John Tavener - Composer (Music Score) Becca Gatrell - Musical Direction/Supervision Karen Elliott - Musical Direction/Supervision Lorna McGowan - Makeup Laura McIntosh - Makeup Graham Johnston - Makeup Kate Benton - Makeup George Richmond - Camera Operator Geoffrey Kirkland - Production Designer Jennifer Williams - Production Designer Veronica Falzon - Production Designer Jim Clay - Production Designer Emmanuel Lubezki - Cinematographer Emma Mager - Production Manager Iain Smith - Producer Troy Smith - Producer Eric Newman - Producer Hilary Shor - Producer Marc Abraham - Producer Tony Smith - Producer Richard Beggs - Sound/Sound Designer David Evans - Sound/Sound Designer Steve Dent - Stunts Coordinator Sally French - Unit Production Manager Mark Fergus - Screenwriter Alfonso Cuarón - Screenwriter David Arata - Screenwriter Hawk Ostby - Screenwriter Timothy J. Sexton - Screenwriter Peter Hannan - Second Unit Director Of Photography David Morgan - Second Unit Camera Charles Bain - Second Unit Camera Steve Murphy - Model Effects Luke Fisher - Model Effects Andy Hunt - Model Effects Steve Wright - Model Effects Barney Nikolic - Model Effects Jeni Walker - Model Effects Tracey O'Brien - Model Effects Andrea Hochgatterer - Model Effects Janet Burns - Model Effects Andy Colquhoun - Model Effects Joe Scott - Model Effects Emma Gaffney - Associate Editor John Higgins - Gaffer Michael Saxton - Post Production Supervisor Hermione Ninnim - Production Coordinator Terry Wells, Sr. - Properties Master Chris Burden - Re-Recording Mixer Tom Johnson - Re-Recording Mixer Beverley Winston - Script Supervisor Emma Horton - Second Assistant Director Ian Corbould - Special Effects Coordinator David Evans - Supervising Sound Editor Lucy Killick - Visual Effects Producer Annie Crawford - Costumes Supervisor Claire Robertson - Production Accountant Emma Bendell - Production Accountant Tim Webber - Visual Effects Framestore - Visual Effects Michael Eames - Visual Effects Double Negative Ltd. - Visual Effects Paul Corbould - Visual Effects Frazer Churchill - Visual Effects P.D. James - Book Author John Midgley - Production Sound Mixer Mark Sanger - Visual Effects Editor Wayne Smith - Visual Effects Editor Tom George - Title Design Capital FX - Title Design

Children of Men
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 Cuarón 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 Cuarón 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, All Movie Guide
 

Alex Rodriguez: Academy, Best Editing (nominated) Alex Rodriguez: Online Film Critics, Best Editing (nominated) Alfonso Cuarón: Academy, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Alfonso Cuarón: Academy, Best Editing (nominated) Alfonso Cuarón: Austin Film Critics Association, Best Adapted Screenplay (winner) Alfonso Cuarón: Austin Film Critics Association, Best Director (winner) Alfonso Cuarón: London Film Critics Circle, Best Director (nominated) Alfonso Cuarón: Online Film Critics, Best Adapted Screenplay (winner) Alfonso Cuarón: Online Film Critics, Best Director (nominated) Alfonso Cuarón: Online Film Critics, Best Editing (nominated) Alfonso Cuarón: Utah Film Critics Awards, Best Director (winner) Chiwetel Ejiofor: Black Reel Awards, Best Supporting Actor (nominated) Claire-Hope Ashitey: Black Reel Awards, Best Supporting Actress (nominated) Claire-Hope Ashitey: London Film Critics Circle, British Newcomer of the Year (nominated) David Arata: Academy, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) David Arata: Online Film Critics, Best Adapted Screenplay (winner) Emmanuel Lubezki: Academy, Best Cinematography (nominated) Emmanuel Lubezki: American Society of Cinematographers, Best Cinematography (winner) Emmanuel Lubezki: Austin Film Critics Association, Best Cinematography (winner) Emmanuel Lubezki: British Academy Awards, Best Cinematography (winner) Emmanuel Lubezki: Chicago Film Critics Circle, Best Cinematography (winner) Emmanuel Lubezki: L.A. Film Critics Association, Best Cinematography (winner) Emmanuel Lubezki: Las Vegas Film Critics Circle, Best Cinematogrpahy (winner) Emmanuel Lubezki: National Society of Film Critics, Best Cinematography (winner) Emmanuel Lubezki: New York Film Critics Society, Best Cinematographer (Runner-up) (winner) Emmanuel Lubezki: Online Film Critics, Best Cinematography (winner) Emmanuel Lubezki: Venice Internatinal Film Festival, Best Cinematography (winner) Frazer Churchill: British Academy Awards, Best Visual Effects (nominated) Geoffrey Kirkland: Art Directors Guild, Best Art Direction - Fantasy Film (nominated) Geoffrey Kirkland: British Academy Awards, Best Production Design (winner) Geoffrey Kirkland: L.A. Film Critics Association, Best Production Design (Runner-up) (winner) Hawk Ostby: Academy, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Hawk Ostby: Online Film Critics, Best Adapted Screenplay (winner) Jennifer Williams: British Academy Awards, Best Production Design (winner) Jim Clay: Art Directors Guild, Best Art Direction - Fantasy Film (nominated) Jim Clay: British Academy Awards, Best Production Design (winner) Jim Clay: L.A. Film Critics Association, Best Production Design (Runner-up) (winner) Mark Fergus: Academy, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Mark Fergus: Online Film Critics, Best Adapted Screenplay (winner) Michael Eames: British Academy Awards, Best Visual Effects (nominated) Paul Corbould: British Academy Awards, Best Visual Effects (nominated) Tim Webber: British Academy Awards, Best Visual Effects (nominated) Timothy J. Sexton: Academy, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Timothy J. Sexton: Online Film Critics, Best Adapted Screenplay (winner) Veronica Falzon: L.A. Film Critics Association, Best Production Design (Runner-up) (winner)

Austin Film Critics Association, Best Picture (nominated) London Film Critics Circle, Best British Film (nominated) Online Film Critics, Best Picture (nominated) Phoenix Film Critics Circle, Best Picture (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French, Spanish Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel Additional Features: The possiblitiy of hope Alfonso Cuarión'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 Slavioj Zizek Deleted scenes Theo & Julian get the inside sotry from Clive Owen and Julianne Moore Futuristic Design from concept to creation, see how director Alfonso Cuarón's dynamic vision of the future was brought to life And more! DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: R DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 2 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 210 min   DVD Chapters: Disc #1 Side B -- 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]