What would it be like not to feel? The concept is taken on in the 2002 film “Equilibrium” by Director/Writer Kurt Wimmer, a sci fi thriller that takes place in a future where all forms of feeling are outlawed in an attempt to eradicate murder, war, and other ugly by-products of human nature. A drug is administered daily to quell feelings – those who do not take it, who feel, are labelled ‘sense offenders’ and are subject to summary execution, along with destruction of ‘illegal’ possessions that might remind people of what it is to feel.
“Equilibrium” is ambitious, and follows the scope of films such as “GATTACA” or “Minority Report” that work by seeking to remove the imperfections of human nature and replace it with something better. In “GATTACA” this was effected by ushering in an era of genetic perfection. In “Minority Report” it was accomplished by arresting perpetrators before they commit a crime. “Equilibrium” works on a basic concept – that feeling leads to anger, hate, and other emotions that lead to war. But it makes no apology for the lives killed in the quest for a emotionless society.
Christian Bale plays Cleric John Preston, a member of a highly-trained law enforcement elite who’s job it is to seek out and bring sense offenders to justice. We learn about him early: he has a son, who he has more of a roommate-type relationship with, and a late wife who was executed for sense offense. “And how did it make you feel?” asks the leader, a man dubbed ‘The Officer in Charge.’ “I don’t understand the question,” Preston replies.
Preston is joined by other Clerics, such as Errow Partridge, played by Sean Bean, and a new recruit, the ambitious Brandt, played by Taye Diggs. Partridge is executed early on for sense offense, caught reading a copy of a poetry book by William Butler Yeats. He reads to Preston:
“But I, being poor, have only my dreams. I have spread my dreams under your feet. Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams.”
Of course poetry – having the capability of spurring human emotion – is among the outlawed practices. As is art. We see a cache of art discovered, among them an authentic Mona Lisa, which is summarily destroyed. But it isn’t long until Preston misses a dose of his anti-feeling medication, and begins to experience the stirrings of emotion, that he comes to understand exactly what it is that is being destroyed.
“Equilibrium” is helped by its acting and action sequences, both of which are well done. As Cleric Preston, Bale seems at home here, and really puts forth a solid performance. Whether due to the fact that this film preceded his “Dark Knight” trilogy, or something about the script called to him, Bale becomes the heart of this film. He plays a man who must not feel (or for a majority of the film pretend not to), but somehow lends more emotion to the character through facial acting and hidden gestures than in many of his other films combined.
The rest of the cast is pleasing, especially Bean and Emily Watson, who plays a sense offender Preston arrests early on. A mirror for his lost wife, Watson becomes a bridge back to emotion for Preston – even though this is a wholly dangerous prospect. And it was nice to see Bean (who was just vile and evil in the last few films I’ve seen him in such as “The Hitcher” and “Don’t Say A Word”) in a role that garners more sympathy for his character. He does a good job setting up Preston’s path (as he realizes he must fight back against the tyrannical society he has helped defend) in only a few allotted scenes.
The action is pleasing, though it seems Wimmer relies too heavily on homages to 1999’s “The Matrix” in some scenes, especially the movie’s high-octane finale. But for the most part it is engaging and pleasing. Gun fights are shown in interesting perspectives, blending shootouts and close-range martial arts for some unique action sequences. And, unlike films such as “The Hunger Games,” the futuristic outfits of the Clerics and law enforcement personnel are believable and don’t seem outlandish or over the top.
Overall, “Equilibrium” is a good movie. In the wake of a slew of modern sci fi films, it holds up due to its focus, action, and slow progression. Even while borrowing some concepts from other movies, Wimmer and Co. put forth an entertaining film that is both solid sci fi and suspense thriller. A definite recommend.
– by Mark Ziobro
