CODE 46
(directed byMichael Winterbottom, 2003)
**+ (out of 5)
.
> The occasionally brilliant Michael Winterbottom, (WELCOME TO SARAJEVO, TRISTAM SHANDY, and the amazing THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO), helmed this interesting sci-fi/romance about a dystopian future where genetic diversity is so threatened that world governments control human breeding with a statute called Code 46.
. Tim Robbins plays an investigator sent to ferret out the guilty party in a passport fraud ring. He is intentionally infected with an “empathy virus” that enables him to practically read people’s minds just by asking them to tell him a little something about themselves. He can discern almost at once that Samantha Morton is the culprit, but the empathy virus has an unexpected side effect, and he finds himself lying to protect her. They begin a clandestine affair that is, unfortunately, anything but convincing. It’s a shame. These two fine actors are unable to generate any chemistry whatsoever. It might have helped if all the steamy lovemaking contained a little nudity. Back in the days when I got to have sex, I don’t remember doing it that often with our clothes on… And I certainly don’t remember showering with our clothes on! Then suddenly- some rather explicit footage. (Oh look. Samantha Morton does have a bottom half!)
. Poor Mr. Robbins seems to be floundering here, though Ms. Morton is very good indeed. Ultimately, it’s a complete misfire. The production design is very good- the sense of a future hybrid world where Spanish, French, Italian and Mandarin have all been assimilated into English is very interesting and believable- but it all just peters out into… nothing, with a most unsatisfying ending.
– All in all, an interesting let down.
*
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