Equilibrium (2002)

Director:

Kurt Wimmer

Writer (WGA):

Kurt Wimmer (written by)

Release Date:

26 February 2003 (Belgium)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

In a future where freedom is outlawed outlaws will become heroes.

Plot:

In a Fascist future where all forms of feeling are illegal, a man in charge of enforcing the law rises to overthrow the system.

Plot Keywords:

Execution | Dictatorship | Tragedy | Animal Killing | Stoicism

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Dominic Purcell	...	Seamus
Christian Bale	...	John Preston
Sean Bean	...	Errol Partridge
Christian Kahrmann	...	Officer in Charge
John Keogh	...	Chemist
Sean Pertwee	...	Father
William Fichtner	...	Jürgen
Angus Macfadyen	...	Dupont
David Barrash	...	Evidentiary Storage Officer
Dirk Martens	...	Gate Guard
Taye Diggs	...	Brandt
Matthew Harbour	...	Robbie Preston
Maria Pia Calzone	...	Preston's Wife
Emily Siewert	...	Lisa Preston
Emily Watson	...	Mary O'Brien

Also Known As:

Cubic (Europe: English title) (video title)
Librium (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Canada:A (Ontario) | Philippines:R-18 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 (DVD rating) | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

The pistols used by the Grammaton Clerics are Beretta 92Fs (not Beretta M93Rs, as some believe) converted to automatic-fire. Many other modifications were made, including changing the disassembly lever into a fire mode selector, lengthening the barrel and adding a compensator to the barrel. The occasional Tetragrammaton Cross shaped muzzle flashes were computer animated.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the gun battle in the corridor outside DuPont's office, some shots show Preston's pistols loaded with the weighted clips before he actually loads them.

Quotes:

[first lines]
DuPont: In the first years of the 21st century, a third World War broke out. Those of us who survived knew mankind could never survive a fourth; that our own volatile natures could simply no longer be risked. So we have created a new arm of the law: The Grammaton Cleric, whose sole task it is to seek out and eradicate the true source of man's inhumanity to man - his ability to feel.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Half-Life 2 (2004) (VG)

Cult movie extraordinaire?

I've seen this movie 5 times (it's the nature of satellite TV) within the past week and it's true...you catch something you've missed or see something new with every successive viewing. This movie is way ahead of its time, and much better than the over-rated Matrix. Bale is always exceptional, and so is his "Metroland" co-star, Emily Watson. Maybe it's the Anglophile or Brit-flick fan in me, but I must say that the added presence of Sean Bean and Angus MacFadyen all but confirms the pre-eminence of UK acting in quality films. Accompanied by very appropriate techno-musik, the action sequences are fast and Euro-flashy, heavily influenced by Jan De Bont--different from the weird, drawn-out, "suspended/string puppet" thing that apparently passes for martial arts these days. (I miss Bruce Lee)

Anyway, if you haven't seen it, give this a shot. If you already have & weren't impressed, take a look at it again. It will grow on you. See if you're inclined to show up to work the next day looking and acting very much a "Cleric" who missed a Prozium dose.