THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW
US, 2004, 130 minutes, Colour.
Dennis Quaid, Jack Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum, Jay O. Sanders, Sela Ward, Austin Nicholls, Arjay Smith, Tamlyn Tomita, Ian Holm, Kenneth Welsh, Adrian Lester, Glenn Plummer.
Directed by Roland Emmerich.
Roland Emmerich is a German director who has made his name with Hollywood blockbusters, Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla and The Patriot. In looking at that list, we realise that he has destroyed Washington by alien attack, New York with Godzilla trampling it, but took the side of the American Revolutionaries against Briton in The Patriot. Now he has the opportunity to create giant fissures in the Antarctic, ice storm Tokyo, have tornados uproot LA, have a tidal wave sweep through New York and, in general, destroy most of the upper half of the northern hemisphere.
It should be added that the special effects to achieve all of the above are some of the best to be seen.
While the disaster formula is as expected, the characters are rather one dimensional and there is the usual dialogue about threats and heroism. There is no time to think about this because something dramatic and exciting happens every 15 minute or so.
One of the differences is that it is nature which is destroying the world (aided, of course, by selfish and greedy humans) but that there is no hero this time to rectify everything. All that anyone can do is to die with dignity or try to help people to survive. This happens in Britain with Ian Holm and Adrian Lester as stoic scientists. The heroism is in scientist Dennis Quaid (whom the US government took too long to listen to) trying to get to New York to save his son (Jake Gyllenhaal, who actually manages pretty well without him).
The premise is rather interesting and challenging: global warming and the melting of the polar ice-caps mean changes in temperature in such warming currents as the gulf stream lead to freezing and a new ice age.
In 2004, Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 attacked the Bush administration. The Day After Tomorrow is also highly critical. Kenneth Welsh’s obdurate Vice President, advocating economics over environment and looking and sounding very like Dick Cheney (against the Kyoto requirements) is the villain of the peace but, as refugees from the freezing US cross the Rio Grande illegally to find a new life in Mexico (!), he apologises. But, of course, this is disaster entertainment and fantasy.
1. The work of Roland Emmerich? His success with disaster movies? The impact of this film, as disaster movie, as environmental message movie?
2. The special effects, the weather, the Antarctic sequence, the plane turbulence, the tornados in Los Angeles, the huge wave in New York City – and the increasing storm and its consequences? Dramatic, realistic?
3. The plot, slight, the characters and their fitting into this kind of didactic disaster movie? Atmospheric musical score?
4. The plausibility of the plot, global warming and the explanations given, the change in the Gulf Stream and other warmth sources around the world? The freezing of the waters, the consequent storms? The erratic weather and the beginning of a new Ice Age?
5. The heroism in the film, personal nobility, the use of science – but, as different from other disaster films, the protagonists not being able to change anything about the weather or the disaster, merely show the best side of human nature?
6. The attitude towards the American government, the vice-president as resembling Dick Cheney, the attack on his obtuseness, the focus on economics rather than the environment? The irony of the death of the president and his becoming president, his broadcast, his admission of ignorance and his apology? The important issue of Americans trying to cross the border into Mexico and the welcome given by the countries of the Third World – and the implied criticism of American attitudes towards other countries and immigration?
7. The opening, the sequence in Antarctica, the research work, Jack, Jason and Frank, their work, the dangers, the fissure in the ice, losing the equipment, Jack and his leaps with the information, their having to save him? Their work together in Washington, the continued research? Jack and his going to New Delhi, his speech, the criticisms of the vice-president? The meeting with Professor Rapson? Their discussions? The work for the government, the boss and having to try to explain things to the government? To the president? The information, the advice about migration and evacuations? Jack and his relationship with his son, his son’s poor results, his going to New York, the lateness with the taxi, Jack and his promising to come to rescue Sam? His relationship with his wife, leaving her at the hospital? The three and their trek towards New York, the difficulties, falling into the mall, Frank cutting the rope and sacrificing himself? The gradual warmth, the sun coming out, getting into the library and being reunited with his son?
8. England, the research, the man watching Manchester United? Simon and his concern about his family, the child, wanting to see it grow up? Professor Rapson? The information about the freezing, ringing the US, giving information, having to stay, the final drink of whisky?
9. Lucy, at home with Sam, her concern about him, Jack’s absences? The photos? Her working with the boy with cancer, the non-availability of ambulances, her decision to stay with the boy, reading him Peter Pan? The return of an ambulance driver? Her being safe?
10. Sam and his friends, the turbulence on the plane, arriving in New York, their participation in the quiz? The aftermath, the dangers in the street, the rising water, getting into the library, survival in the library, the burning of the books (but the librarian wanting to save the Gutenberg Bible)? The librarian and her collaboration, the warmth? The street man with his dog? The police and the decision to move people on, Sam with the information from his father that they should stay inside? His ringing from the payphone and the rising waters? Laura and his relationship with her, talking to her, the kiss? The advice from Brian and not seeing him as a rival? Their friend and his abilities with radio and other works? Laura and the poisoning, going into the ship which had sailed along 42nd Street? Getting the medicine, being harassed by the wolves, the return to the ship?
11. The finale, the migration to Mexico, government in Mexico? The people in the northern part of the world dying from the cold? The survivors coming out onto the roofs of buildings and the determination to build a new world? The optimism and the belief in the resilience of human nature?
