Movie: The Island (SF)

The Island was TERRIFIC! I'd been waiting to see it all summer, and it was absolutely worth the wait.

When Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson discover they are not survivors of a horrible global contamination, but rather clones developed by the wealthy as insurance policies against disease and death, they struggle to escape from their pristine facility to the outside world. Their fear of death and capture and their enthusiastic embrace of each new experience provide the emotional context that makes this film work so well. There are fabulous chases and shootouts, but this is more than just a popcorn film. The Island delves deeply into the the ethical consequences of unchecked technology, but more importantly gives us characters we care about to help us determine whether this is a future we want for ourselves.

In addition to the strong leads, there is an outstanding supporting cast. As always, Sean Bean plays an excellent villain, while Steve Buscemi, Djimon Hounsou, and Michael Clarke Duncan do a great job with important supporting characters. A must-see film. Grade: A