Dir: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Charlize Theron, Marton Csokas,
Jonny Lee Miller, Sophie Okonedo, Pete Postlethwaite,
Frances McDormand
Rated PG-13, Approx: 92 Minutes
Paramount DVD
the Perfect Assassin."
distant world threatening to
collapse on itself.
with that incarnation of Aeon Flux can attest that the violent, morally and sexually ambiguous exploits of the title
character wouldn’t naturally lend itself to a Hollywood adaptation. Equipped with an indefinite narrative and visuals
that often defied description, the story of a lethal assassin carrying out a vague assignment some 800 years in the
future was a challenging if not entirely satisfying experience. It was defined by a completely unique feeling not
easily duplicated. While I wouldn’t say that this film succeeds in duplicating the feel of the series, it does make for
a compelling and enthralling experience.
reside in the oppressive city of Bregna, a sprawling ‘utopian’ dictatorship that houses many dark secrets. Assassin
Aeon Flux (Theron) is tasked with infiltrating the fortress of Chairman Trevor Goodchild so to kill him and bring
about an end to his regime. Before long, Aeon discovers that all is not what it seems and after a series of startling
discoveries, she’s forced to reevaluate her allegiances and make a stand that could alter the future of all
remaining humanity.
genre of films. Their vision of the future is a dystopia, same as Blade Runner or The Matrix, but it’s not exactly
what a sci-fi audience might be used to. This society isn’t one consisting of computer screens and text messages,
but rather people who communicate internally with the assistance of chemical substances that facilitate some type
of telepathic connection between people. This notion of a futuristic technological regression is interesting enough
to be the subject of its own film, as it stands we don’t get nearly enough of it here. There are some choice
moments throughout the film that will remind audiences of various moments from Cronenberg’s oeuvre but nothing
potent enough to make one forget those films either. I’m not going to delve into other plot points that would ruin
the viewing experience for anybody but let me simply say that this script isn’t empty.
happening within the relatively brisk 92 minutes. The film presents a lot of intriguing concepts that all could’ve
been the subject of their own movie, and in that sense, this one proves to be a little too ambitious for its own
good. Some of the better ideas pass the viewer by with very little impact. Just the final scene alone could’ve
been so much more. So as accomplished as I found the film, it’s also important to point out some missed
opportunites.
the film is absolutely gorgeous. Kusama’s style fits the film wonderfully and also takes full advantage of the
dramatic set design. From the very beginning, the world created in Aeon Flux is entirely believable and simply
stunning.
role. Personally I’ve never been a fan of hers and it’s not that I dislike her; rather she’s done very few films that
have interested me. When it was announced that she was playing Aeon in the Hollywood adaptation, I was less
than enthused with the casting decision because I have a tendency to always assume the worst. As soon as the
film began however, I found myself eating my words. Not only is Charlize Theron easy on the eyes, but she gives
the role the juicy duality that Aeon Flux fans have come to expect from the character. This character goes
beyond the typical female movie action hero insofar as we believe her as a person and not just a slinky action
figure with a tight body (which admittedly steals the show in a few scenes).
seems. This character, Goodchild, is one area of the film where it works entirely in spite of itself. I realize that I
shouldn’t hold the film directly against its television counterpart, but this is one matter where it was far too difficult
to withdraw all bias: the relationship between Aeon and Trevor.
series featured a Goodchild that was deadly even when he allied himself with Aeon. Here, we never get that
feeling and while the dysfunctional liaison is touched upon briefly, the film romanticizes their bond without the
necessary tension and hostility to pull of off successfully.
people would be disappointed over that fact. Studios need to learn to stop screwing with the expectations of the
viewer, particularly when promising one thing over the other. This film obviously wasn’t made to pander to action
enthusiasts, but to a sci-fi set who can appreciate the unique vision of the future the film runs with. I personally
skipped it in theatres because I feared another Tomb Raider and I have a feeling that this one won’t have to
work too hard to find an audience of admirers on DVD.
the version turned into the studio by the director. Her cut runs approximately 25 minutes longer and contains a
considerable amount of story device and character development. Hopefully Paramount will give fans the chance
to discover that version on DVD someday as I feel like this one could only be strengthened into something truly
remarkable with a little more humanity and emotion inserted into it.
does it sound?
enhanced 2.35:1 picture ranks among the sharpest, most impressive transfers available to the DVD consumer
with sharp colors (including bold blacks thankfully) and no sign of edge enhancement. Paramount usually gives
video enthusiasts very little to frown about and Aeon Flux is no exception. The disc’s strong visuals are
accompanied by an aggressive 5.1 Dolby Digital mix that further ensconces the viewer in the world of the film.
features average marks at best. You get five featurettes, each of them dedicated to a different area of the film’s
production: an overview, set design, stunt work, costume design and an interview with the film’s still
photographer (?). Throughout these you get interviews with the film’s director and writers, stars Charlize Theron
and Sophie Okonedo and various other people involved with bringing the movie to life. None of this is terribly
memorable, nor is it excruciating. The biggest admirers of the film may find these the most valuable, more casual
viewers won’t find anything to care about.
Charlize Theron and the second featuring writers Hay and Manfredi. The first track is the more disappointing of
the two as neither Hurd nor Theron have anything terribly interesting to say about making Aeon Flux. Their talk
consists mostly of reiterating story elements and character arcs and is almost instantly forgettable. The second
track between Hay and Manfredi fares slightly better as a light and mildly amusing discussion about the film's
story and characters, but the director is suspiciously absent from both of these talks.
looks and sounds exactly as a new film released to DVD should look/sound, perfect. While the extras leave a lot
to be desired, it’s the film the really counts and there is no better way to discover one of 2005’s most under
looked little gems.
* * * * out of 5
Reviewed by Matt Serafini 5/11/06
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