I know this is going backward. I’m lazy. Get over it.
The Island
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Scartlett Johansson
Directed: Michael Bay (Pearl Harbor, Bad Boys)
Rating : ★★★
SYNPOSIS
The Island is a very ambitious project — which unfortunately slowly falls apart, but not without making some interesting premises (although not completely original) – about genetic manipulation and cloning. The film is set in a pristine, polished, sterile and highly regimented world, one in which those quarantines inside are told they are the survivors of a massive world sickness. They are monitored daily – blood tests, food rations for diet and health, redundant work, super-clean clothing, etc. The story revolves around Lincoln Six Echo (McGregor) and his friend Jordan Two Delta (Johansson) as they go about their daily lives within the compound.
Part of their daily life is watching for sweepstakes to see who will a trip to “The Island” — a special topical island where those taken are asked to repopulate the world.
Lincoln is a questioner and dreamer (and by dreamer I mean he has specific dreams about the same thing). Often asking why about the many things they do – why do we do this, why do I have to wear these clothes, why do we keep discovering new “survivors”). Lincoln also has a friend from the “outside” — McCord (Steve Buscemi) who feeds him information on the outside world. Then Lincoln sees a moth. He captures it and asks the leader of the compound, Merrick, who becomes concerned that Lincoln may discover the truth. Lincoln’s inquisitive ways lead him to the discover what happens to those who win “the contest” and go to the “island” after his friend Jordan wins.
Upon his discover he and Jordan embark on long journey toward the truth and away from the the mob of Merrick’s mercenaries who want them dead so no one discovers the truth. The film switches gears and turns into a chase movie — car crashes, chase scenes and lots of running and explosions. The philosophical questions disappear and the movie becomes entertaining but predictable and mundane, but still containing enough intrigue and overall fun to be worth a watch.