AEON FLUX
Director: Karyn Kusama
Stars: Charlize Theron , Frances McDormand, Sophie Okenedo, Jonny Lee Miller, Marton Csosaks
Reviwed by PETER MALONE
Director Karyn Kusama previously wrote and directed a film about female boxing, Girlfight . That gives her some qualifications for this action drama where the heroine, Aeon Flux (also known as Catherine) has to take on many enemies in choreographed conflict. She is played by Charlize Theron , relying on statuesque glamour here rather than subdued plainness, as in Monster and North Country .
Perhaps this film has come too late in the day to make the impact it might have some years ago. Audiences have seen plenty of such futuristic stories – many of which were clearer to follow and brighter to look at. It follows familiar plotlines and relies on the interest in speculations about the future of the human race and the action.
The film is based on a series of comic books.The setting is several centuries hence and plague has decimated populations. Women are barren, so scientists are heavily involved in cloning procedures. In fact, most of the people seem to be clones – but there are signs of breakthrough and an ordinary human future.
Aeon belongs to a group of rebels controlled by Frances McDormand . When they are sent on a mission to destroy Trevor Goodchild, the head of the industry, Aeon finds she is reluctant to kill him. Relying on her friend and sparring partner Sithendra ( Sophie Okenedo ), she discovers the (expected) treachery of Goodshild's younger brother, Oren, ( Jonny Lee Miller ). The expected battle lines are drawn. Trevor turns out to be more than a Goodchild and Oren is the bad child. And the film ends with hope for humanity again.