In a future British tyranny, a shadowy freedom fighter,
known only by the alias of "V", plots to overthrow it with the help
of a young woman.
Director: James McTeigue
Writers: Lilly Wachowski (screenplay) (as The Wachowski
Brothers), Lana Wachowski (screenplay) (as The Wachowski Brothers)
Stars: Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Rupert Graves
Storyline
Tells the story of Evey Hammond and her unlikely but
instrumental part in bringing down the fascist government that has taken
control of a futuristic Great
Britain. Saved from a life-and-death
situation by a man in a Guy Fawkes mask who calls himself V, she learns a
general summary of V's past and, after a time, decides to help him bring down
those who committed the atrocities that led to Britain being in the shape that it
is in.
Box Office
Budget: $54,000,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend: £1,188,058 (UK) (17 March 2006)
Gross: $70,496,802 (USA) (23 June 2006)
User Reviews
'V for Vendetta' will no doubt be remembered as being one of
the most well-produced films of this decade for its powerful script, strong
character depictions and the sheer excellence in terms of quality. Loosely
based on the DC Comic, the film is set in a totalitarian Britain where
the BNP-like government who run the country with an iron fist that they make
Thatcher's Tories look positively warm and trustworthy. Then emerges a
vigilante in the form of V, a man deformed by fire and the governmental
experiments that have given him enhanced strength, who is determined to free
the UK
from dictatorship by blowing up the Houses of Parliament. Evey is the young
woman who is unwittingly embroiled in his plot and soon understands what just
it is that motivates V so.
The acting in 'V for Vendetta' was top-notch and, along with
the well-written script and apt soundtrack, gave the film the essence to engage
the audience and make them feel-- for better or worse-- for these characters.
Although her accent was wobbly in places, Natalie Portman delivered a strong
performance as Evey, depicting the character's growing love for V and the
realisation that the time for her to fight has arrived. Stephen Rea also
deserves a mention, as the detective who begins to grasp just how corrupt the
government he has supported really is, as does Stephen Fry who proves he can do
much more than play bumbling characters in his performance as Deitrich, a
protester who hasn't quite grasped just how far the government will go to shut
their opponents up. John Hurt's Chancellor Sutler was very terrifying as the
dictator who couldn't give a toss about his people so long as he remained in
total power. However, above all, it was Hugo Weaving's absolutely brilliant
depiction of the lead character V who dominates. Without ever seeing his facial
expression, he exudes the pragmatism, charisma and intelligence of the
character with a twist of revenge-driven madness.