Directed by:
Ramin BahraniCinematography:
Kramer MorgenthauCast:
Michael Shannon, Michael B. Jordan, Sofia Boutella, Lilly Singh, Tim Post, Jane Moffat, Keir Dullea, Martin Donovan, Grace Lynn Kung, Dylan Taylor (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
A dazzling, high-tech thriller that infuses Ray Bradbury's classic novel of the same name with a decidedly 21st Century sensibility, the HBO Films presentation of Fahrenheit 451 depicts an American future where the media is an opiate, internet bots control everyday routines, history is truncated or rewritten, and brigades of celebrity "firemen" engage in televised search-and-destroy missions to burn books and bring their shamed owners to justice. Within this paranoid world, a zealous fireman (Michael B. Jordan) who's being groomed to replace his longtime captain (Michael Shannon) begins to question long-held assumptions about the practice of torching books and other "graffiti" that leaders say caused widespread dissent and, as a result, a "Second Civil War" where millions perished. After meeting a young informant (Sofia Boutella) who's on probation for supporting those who value literature and history, the fireman makes a dangerous decision to assist a group of underground "Eels" who have a bold plan for preserving the contents of thousands of classic books, arts and culture - if they can outwit the all-seeing forces intent on destroying them. (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (2)
Ray Bradbury is undeniably a sci-fi icon, but this adaptation turns a great concept into a heavy-handed, book-burning spectacle. If it weren’t for Michael Shannon, I probably would’ve turned it off much sooner.
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The film wasn’t as bad as I feared, given my initial expectations of a movie filled with nonsense, A poorly written script, and a dreadful final execution. However, it didn’t turn out that way. Admittedly, if I had read Ray Bradbury's original novel, I might have had more critiques about what the film aimed to achieve, but since I haven’t read the book, comparisons aren’t quite relevant. Firstly, the film has a distinct TV production feel. The special effects seem rather basic, and I would have expected a more elaborately developed world. The aerial shots of a regular city with only a few CGI signs on skyscrapers don’t impress much. Despite this, I found the story engaging, with an intriguing concept about firefighters (it never would have occurred to me to turn the primary function of a fire department into starting fires instead of putting them out). The subplot involving the rebels seemed a bit underdeveloped; it could have been tweaked to give this storyline more weight and convincing character. Michael Shannon shines in his role, and his expressions are a pleasure to watch; he’s a great actor. The ending was quite acceptable. The execution gets 2 stars, but the idea deserves a strong 4. I give it 65%.
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