Children of Men

Just got back from watching Children of Men, and it is easily one of the best movies I have seen in some time. A masterpiece! The premise, script, acting, cinematography, direction- everything- is incredibly well done. It is gritty realism at its best, and maintains a steady, tense pace throughout, while never wavering from its sense of realism. The characters do not degenerate into your typical thriller clichés, there is a depth to them, and they are all portrayed very delicately and with an amazing amount of subtlety to their personalities. While the protagonist is something of an antihero, he does not come off as your usual self-seeking guy who ends up reluctantly doing what is right only after having endless guilt trips thrust upon him by the noble underdogs. He's just an ordinary guy reacting to an unexpected, if violent, set of circumstances. No judgments are rendered.

Additionally, there are some truly poignant scenes, one scene in particular (without giving anything away) is one of the most moving of any film I have seen, and time just sort of stands still as you watch it- almost moved me to tears by its originality and the sheer beauty of its execution. I highly recommend this film, this is four star caliber material.