Code 46 (2004)

It's mostly the two main characters making out interspersed with other stuff that may or may not matter or make sense. The good reviews here are REALLY a stretch. Ends with the words "I miss you" .....but who cares.

Holy moly did I ever love this movie. Right after watching it I gave it a 10 on IMDb and bought the soundtrack. Which, strangely has a pretty low ranking despite a whole whack of glowing reviews with similar feelings to my own. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be a massive understatement. In the future everything is controlled by the governments and corporations, pretty familiar so far, right? We are told right away over a series of shots that seem like it's no the future at all, but right now. That, people with genetic compatibility is prohibited. We aren't told the repercussions but we know this is a big no no. Anything above 25% if I remember correctly is not a thing that is tolerated in this society. And then, it's kind of never brought up again. William Geld (Tim Robbins) goes to Shanghai to try and solve a problem for a corporation. Some "papeles" have been flagged with people who have fake IDs. Basically, these papeles are issued by the totalitarian are what allow people to travel to other places, and keep people outside of the cities in shanties out of the cities. William meets a woman named Maria while investigating and a really unique and interesting love story happens. I don't want to give much away but what follows is super compelling. The soundtrack is fantastic, the acting, cinematography, and script is just fantastic. The world is interesting and compelling over time. At first, everything doesn't seem like it's the future at all, and then slowly we are introduced to future tech and cultural things that make it clear that we are not in in the present. My favorite thing was that it seems as though everyone in this world has a short hand that mixes a bunch of different languages. They apologize and refer to boys and girls in Spanish in Shanghai, a young boy speaks french to his father in Seattle, some Chinese words are mixed throughout.Another thing is the concept of consensual viruses that alter people's minds. Code 46 infects everyone and forces them to do something specific, the main character has an empathy virus he uses to immediately discern things about people so long as they offer up something personal about themselves. It's a super neat concept.

It's amazing that none of the cast or crew noticed that they were using a primitive first draft instead of a polished story. Somehow they made a whole movie without noticing how weak the story was. There were a few good ideas but the whole thing needed to be reworked several times over until it became half-way presentable.The background society doesn't feel plausible enough. Astonishing things happen in this dystopian world and there isn't much rhyme or reason to it.How does the empathy virus work? It seems to give him telepathic powers. How can there be an counter-empathy-virus-virus? It feels more like magic than science fiction. In science fiction there needs to be some attempt at explaining the purpose or function of the new technology.If there are really so many clones in the world that there are entire government departments designed to prevent incest, then how come nobody in the movie looks the same? Did I miss something? Also why would they knowingly populate the world with clones and not realize that incest was going to be a problem? Why does he seem to allow Maria to make the somnambulistic phone call? Why does he casually rush into an affair with this woman? If it is supposed to be intense attraction why are the actors so nonplussed about it all? Also the relationship is creepy. The story would work with star-crossed lovers of similar age and prospects. But the William character is older, more powerful and already married. It feels like he is taking advantage of her. It's not clear why she would fall for him.I could go on and on but there are really too many inexplicable things in this story to point out. Basically my critique is WHY? do things happen the way they do in this world - there doesn't seem to be any reason for the government to pursue these bizarre policies.

Code 46 is a film that puts its heart ahead of its head. Fortunately there are times when I can cherish such an endeavour so it worked for me, but I'm not the sort of viewer to tune out my head entirely so it didn't entirely work. For a plot, we have an fraud investigator in a dystopian future falling for his chief suspect. There's romance and plot developments, but the romance is key, the film is a study in wistful mood over and above its narrative. The driving force is the sparking of love in a time of such uncertainty it seems near impossible, a future of uncertain (and perhaps dangerous) genetic identities and instant personality alterations. A time in which mankind has gone so far with genetic experimentation that intrusive legislation and rigid border controls are the governments only tool to keep things under control, with Tim Robbins as or protagonist working to do just that. Now the above might give the impression of science fiction intrigues in a distant new world, but the design is modern with little visually (apart from a pretty awesome road junction) to set it apart from our world, generally conversation and some cold interior designs are what creates its sense of future. As for intrigue, well this gets us to the trouble with the film. Thematically, the potential is high, but by and large the issues are little more than brought up and laid down, if brought up at all. So no serious delving into the moral and biological consequences of events, nor the problems raised by personality alteration viruses, nor even much of a process of realisation/rebellion by our lead. What's there instead is charm, a gentle look at quiet, irresponsible burgeoning romance, deftly essayed by the leads and buttressed by sweet presentation. Tim Robbins does well in suggesting a questing soul beneath a smiling, sincerely insincere exterior, while Samantha Morton is a delight as the object of his affections. With hair cut short and a childlike naiveté she near shimmers in other-world loveliness, a truly likable turn. They have fine chemistry too, so their relationship is a fine one to ride with, much aided by the cinematography and score. Some places look suitably sterile here, but a lot of places are shot with soft, dreamhaze hues as if coming to from a medicated slumber, fitting to the plot. The music, mostly from The Free Association is wistful and shoegazey, again appropriate. The ending does however really spoil the mood established by the wordless score by employing a Coldplay song. I'm probably biased because I loathe Coldplay anyway but even taking that into account I don't think any vocals would really have suited the end of this one. I'm in danger of selling this one perhaps more than it truly deserves, but I did like it a lot. The lack of substance is a big drawback, but maintains a near constantly pleasing tone even if I wasn't thinking much about it after viewing. 7/10 from me, one for romantics methinks.