Time running out to watch dystopian thriller hailed a 'masterpiece' by fans on BBC iPlayer
One of the best science fiction films of the century so far is currently available to watch on BBC's iPlayer - but you don't have long to catch it. Co-written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón in 2006, Children of Men has been hailed as a 'masterpiece' by fans of the dystopian thriller. Based on PD James' 1992 novel of the same name, the film is set in 2027 in London and features a world where society is on the brink of collapse due to infertility. Starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Charlie Hunnam, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Pam Ferris, Children of Men received immense critical acclaim upon release. With a roaring 92 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes, Cuarón's film was nominated for three Academy Awards - for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing - as well as three BAFTAs , ultimately winning Best Cinematography and Best Production Design at the British event. While the movie didn't do too well at the global box-office - grossing approximately $70million on a budget of $76m - its critical reception was top-notch. Heaping praise on the director, one critic said: 'A film that has much to recommend it, not least the proof it offers, as if any more were needed, that Alfonso Cuarón is one of the most visually inspired directors working today,' while another added: 'Alfonso Cuarón proves again what a versatile and talented director he is.' Another states: 'Children of Men feels more relevant than almost every film set in the present day and is better than almost every other film made this year,' while one critic wrote: 'You feel as if you're accompanying a war photographer who's lost a bet. Slogging unflinchingly through humanity's worst hours, the movie laces the narrative's forays into science-fiction grandstanding with a gut-wrenching dynamic.' Audiences were also left spellbound, with one viewer saying: 'Under the stunning direction of Alfonso Cuarón, Children of Men is a beautifully shot (fantastic one-take action sequences), incredibly acted and layered thriller that is packed with emotional depth and continuous suspense. There were a couple of elements that could have been handled with a little bit more flair, but all in all, this was a brilliant and hugely compelling film.' Another feels the film truly stands the test of time: 'Alfonso Cuarón's dystopian vision of a world where women have stopped getting pregnant, and society is falling into despair in the absence of hope for the future, has lost none of its power from its original release - and is perhaps rightly now regarded as one of the best films of its era. 'That it manages to be so prescient, so unflinchingly clear-eyed about the mess we're in, and still provide some genuine hope is remarkable. Truly standing the test of time nearly twenty years on, this looks set to remain one for future generations to revisit and mine for inspiration and insight.' Another said: 'This is an extraordinary artistic breakthrough from a Mexican director who was already fearlessly good to begin with.' Children of Men is streaming on BBC iPlayer until Tuesday and is available for rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ for £3.49.
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