The Wachowski brothers have long had a love affair with graphic novels and their characters. Like their Matrix trilogy, and based on Allan Moore’s graphic novel, V for Vendetta is also a cautionary parable of an Orwellian world that is both frightening and fascinating.
The year is 2020 and WWIII has come and gone. America has been reduced to a wasteland, and a group of insurgents in Britain has risen up, taken over, and started a new and “better” government with a new Chancellor, Sutler (John Hurt) and his right-hand man Creedy (Tim Pigott-Smith). In this totalitarian country, citizens are under severe surveillance, curfew, and strict laws. The government is corrupt beyond reproach. The people fear the government, and they become apathetic over time, existing merely for the sake of being “protected” from the horror of “wars.”
Timid and mild-mannered Evey (Natalie Portman) works for the government-run broadcast system, which often twists the facts and lies to portray the government in a specific, positive light. One night, Evey is saved from being raped by corrupt cops by a mysterious man wearing a Guy Fawkes mask who calls himself “V,” for Vendetta. Even though she doesn’t believe in the terrorist tactics and violence, V stirs something deep inside Evey, and she reluctantly becomes his protégé and ally. In the course of one year, V diligently plans to make a statement by blowing up the Parliament, while eluding the pursuit led by police chief Finch (Stephen Rea) and his assistant (Rupert Graves).
Portman (Closer) is wonderful as Evey, a woman with a past who slowly awakens to her purpose and destiny. She shows great vulnerability as well as resolution. Her transformation is riveting and she gives a solid, affecting performance. Hugo Weaving (Little Fish) has an imposing presence and a soft-spoken voice; however, acting mostly in costumes and behind masks, Weaving never gets to show his real acting chops. He and Portman do share some wonderful screen time together, and the romance between their characters have a creepy, erotic feel to it.
Hurt (The Skeleton Key) has nothing to do but act mad and nasty as Chancellor Sutler. Pigott-Smith (Alexendar) is equally snide and slimy with only a few expressions to spare. Rea (Tara Road) does a better job as the sympathetic chief, and Graves (Rag Tale) is amiable as his assistant, Dominic. Roger Allam (A Cock and Bull Story) has a great time playing the Rush Limbaugh-like character, Porthero. Stephen Fry (A Cock and Bull Story) is wonderful as Evey’s boss and TV celebrity, Deitrich, who has a few costly secrets of his own.
Article comments
1 - Albert
Ray, wouldn't that be World War 'III'? :)
2 - Ray
Ooops, bad typo. But you know what I meant. ;)