HANNA CHU
A&E Editor
The public was surprised to see Natalie Portman sporting a shaved head recently, and while her baldness has helped publicize director McTeigue’s new action-packed movie “V for Vendetta,” the movie will stand out on its own once it hits theaters tomorrow because of the movie’s carefully laid out production.
The movie is set in a futuristic landscape of Britain that has become a complete totalitarian regime. V, played by Hugo Weaving (“Lord of the Rings” and “Matrix”), wants to to show the people of England that they can stand up to the facist government and fight for their freedom. However, as the plot unravels, V’s history reveals that underneath the goodwill, he is also driven by a personal vendetta. In a well-planned scheme, V gets on national television to invite his fellow citizens to join him in protest on Guy Fawkes Day, the anniversary of the conspiracy to blow up English Parliament and King James I, then prepares for his big day with calculated tricks and murders.
Each scene in this new movie is very deliberate, with each action and line having a purpose to the overall plot of the movie. McTeigue doesn’t waste time with pillow shots or dry conversation. Everything is obviously planned out meticulously, which is what makes the film memorable. From the moment Evey is rescued by V in the beginning of the movie, the action moves fast, which throws out a lot of information in a short amount of time about V’s background, the government’s cover-ups and Evey’s history.
It’s not just a movie about Evey and V taking on the government, nor is it just about the freedom of the oppressed English people. Rather, McTeigue set it up so that the complexity of the film extends much further than what the preview lets on. The fact that the Wachowski brothers are the producers for this film should clue the public in on the intricacies of this movie. Just as “Matrix” can be interpreted on a number of different levels, the same is true for “V For Vendetta.”
Ultimately, it is McTeigue’s choice of actors cast that helped add realism and credibility to the futuristic movie.
Finch, played by Stephen Rea (“Interview with a Vampire” and “The Crying Game”), plays the quintessential government detective who discovers that his officials have been lying and is torn between doing what is right and his loyalty to the government. Finch’s discoveries help to move the plot along, and although he is a rather boring character, his honest expressionless face adds suspense to a movie filled with surprises and shocking revelations.
Natalie Portman (“Garden State” and “Closer”) stars as Evey Hammond, a young woman who unexpectedly becomes V’s ally. The journey V leads Evey on shows her who she really is and brings out a boldness she had never experienced before. Portman has delivered a stellar performance in just about every role she has had recently, and this movie is no exception. She has the girl-next-door look down, as was seen on “Garden State,” but “Closer” showed the public that she is a versatile actress.“V for Vendetta” will be another movie that showcases her talents. She takes a serious movie about political corruption and adds life and personality to the screen. Portman even made something as cheesy as kissing a man with a mask on, look honest and rational.
And even though Weaving was behind a spooky mask for the entire movie, his dramatic theatrical performance is almost humorous because it’s just so overdone.
“V for Vendetta” stands out among the pack of movies in theaters because it addresses issues such as political control and the true meaning of freedom.
03-16-2006
