Julianne Moore (Evolution) and Michael Caine are the biggest names I saw in this movie, but they did not take the lead roles. It is set in the future, just 20 or so years ahead and humankind has become completely unable to reproduce. The youngest member of the human race, who is just 18 years old, has just been killed because he refused to sign an autograph.

The only country in the world that is still standing is Britain, but having said that it is still not a place you'd like to live in. The government has made it illegal to not have a fertility test. Refugees are rounded up, caged and deported without trial despite the state of their home countries.

When the main guy (played, I am told, by Clive Owen) is kidknapped by an old friend (Moore) he has no choice but to help them but soon enough things get far more complicated.

This film mixes violence and sci-fi very well, without resorting to overly political or technological advances too much. There are no hover cars and laser weapons. In fact, it becomes apparent that technology has not advanced much further than we are at today - a good move.

Although it is not always totally obvious what the motivation of some key characters are, the plot is coherent enough and simple enough to follow. Some action scenes are possibly over the top, but with some believable performances throughout. It didn't glorify violence, and the main character, though protecting others didn't become another rambo.

All in all a very interesting film, that I may have to see again to see if I can clarify a few things. I'd recommend it.

see also:
District 9, Battle Los Angeles, Cloverfield, Sunshine

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photo © Universal Pictures.