Aeon Flux
Here Is What You Need To Know:
I am a very disappointed girl. Very. I was such a fan of Peter Chung's often brilliant and innovative Aeon Flux. Oh my but the movie, Aeon Flux. So disappointing, but don't take my word for it, just take a look at how disappointed and somewhat crushed Chung looks in the behind the scenes footage and interviews. He knows.
He knows. Aeon Flux is the movie based on the popular MTV animated series that follows a sexy female assassin with spider-like long legs living in the last city on earth in a diseased future. Oh, it could have been so good, but it is not. It is like too different films. Some of the effects are brilliant, some are just okay. Some of the sets are great, others are just not that impressive.
The beautiful Charlize Theron just doesn't work as Aeon and the rest of the cast doesn't fit either. Jonny Lee Miller, a really under utilized talent, just doesn't work as Oren Goodchild and Frances McDormand's face tells the story of a woman who knows she is on a sinking ship. I won't bore you with the details of the messy and scattered story with its awkward pacing. Writers Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi whose previous work included The Tuxedo and Crazy/Beautiful were not ready for this project, and I have no idea why or how they landed it.
Unfortunately, Girlfight director Karyn Kusama wasn't handed the right script or the right budget to make this work and I was rooting for her. Hate to say it Karyn, but you needed a film with some effects under your belt before tackling Aeon Flux, but that isn't your fault, that is the studio's and the producer's fault.
What Was Cool:
-Despite my negative review, it must be said there are some truly interesting effects and visuals in the film. Watching Aeon Flux is not a total loss.
-There are great costumes through out the film and some fine prop work as well.
What Was Stupid:
-This script should have never gotten off the ground.
-I would love, love, love to say Karyn Kusama was the right person for the film, but she wasn't, and unfortunately, it may hurt her career. She is quite capable, but was not ready for Aeon Flux. Hopefully she will recover.
Overlooked Performance/Accomplishment:
-Cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh did a fine job, as did Production Designer Andrew McAlpine, Costume Designer Beatrix Pasztor and the entire art department. They all did fine work that would be easy to overlook.
Story D
Use of Science B
Acting C+ ( Too many inappropriate casting decisions really hurt Aeon Flux.)
Portrayal of Women A
Visuals-Visuals and Special Effects B
Visuals-Set Design/Props A
Wardrobe/Costumes A
Style/Sex Appeal A
Enjoyability Grade C-
Home Theater/HD Factor B ( Parts of Aeon Flux will be rich and vivid in high-definition but the wide variety of inconsistencies might drive you a little crazy.)
Gut Check (Level of Studio Executive Guts) D ( Studio executives, just don't rubber stamp any old script just because it has big time name recognition. Come on boys!)
Overall Innovation C-
Overall Grade C- (This is probably a film that only fans of the show might want to tackle. Aeon Flux was a flop but I have been informed that the film probably made a little money at the end of the day. Any business where you can fail and still make a buck is a good one.)
A Little Fact About Cherie:
I needed a drink after Aeon Flux.
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