Futuristic depictions of totalitarian societies are not a new concept in any medium. This theme of people being suppressed by an overprotective and corrupt government has become somewhat of a cliché over the years, despite many different takes on the idea. Though “V for Vendetta” makes no attempt to try anything different with the subject matter, it is one of the better uses of the premise.
The movie, which is based on a graphic novel from the ’80s, is best described in a simple manner.
The setting is Great Britain in the not-so-distant future. World War III has ended, causing the United States to fall in power. Britain, through its newly found world power, becomes a corrupt place where its citizens are denied basic freedoms, such as the right to choose their own religion or view certain art.
A masked radical, known as V (played by Hugo Weaving), attempts to overthrow the crooked government through a series of terrorist attacks and specified murders. During his exploits, V gets to know Evey Hammond (played by Natalie Portman), a young woman that he saved while she was being assaulted. Eventually, Hammond becomes a partner of sorts for V, making fugitives out of both of them.
The story is far more complex than that, however. The screenplay, adapted by the Wachowski brothers (of “Matrix” fame), has some very complex thoughts behind it.
V’s fight for his country’s freedom portrays him as the hero of the film, despite his terrible actions, which occasionally result in some surprising twists, as well as bits of very well written dialog.
“V for Vendetta” is also pleasing in its acting. The film’s major players rarely faltered, especially Portman, who gives one of her best performances. Her transformation from innocent young woman to co-terrorist was seamless and showed her depth as an actress.
Even the supporting cast is believable, including the typical citizen’s response to the terrorist acts. This quality acting kept the story feeling believable despite the fictional theme.
“V for Vendetta” may disappoint some moviegoers, however. In contrast to the film’s marketing campaign, action scenes make up a rather small percentage of the film. Aside from one scene toward the end of the film, none of the action is really worth mentioning, which may upset fans of the Wachowski brothers’ “Matrix” series.
This lack of violence should not act as a deterrent for most moviegoers, however. “V for Vendetta” has an interesting story and a smart way of telling it.
It may not be the best film about a futuristic authoritarian society, but it is certainly not one of the worst.
Matthew Loriso can be reached at mloriso@ulv.edu.
