THE INVASION
US, 2007, 99 minutes, Colour.
Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam, Jackson Bond, Jeffrey Wright, Veronica Cartwright, Josef Sommer, Celia Weston, Roger Rees.
Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel.
Received poorly by public and critics, word came out that there was a change of directors for The Invasion, producers’ intervention and re-editing.
If one looks at the film without knowing anything about the original from the 1950s and the 1978 remake, it might pass as a moderately suspenseful science fiction. (Abel Ferrara also re-made the film in the 1990s.) But, most audiences who want to see the film will be well versed in the other films and will find this version wanting.
It is a pity because Nicole Kidman does her best and the original director, Oliver Hirschbiegel, made that impressive film about Hitler’s last days, Downfall. I presume he won’t be in a hurry to rush back to Hollywood after this experience.
This version takes place in a big city of personal anonymity rather than a small American town. There is frequent reference to today’s world troubles, especially Iraq and Afghanistan. When a spacecraft breaks up on return to earth, alien forces infiltrate earth and take possession of human beings who become conformist and emotionless pods. Nicole Kidman portrays a mother anxious to protect her son, especially from her infected former husband (Jeremy Northam), relying on the help of fellow-scientists (Jeffrey Wright and Daniel Craig whom some critics – not without justification – said it is difficult to tell when he is possessed or not!).
Nicole has to keep awake so that the infection cannot take hold and much of the film has her eluding capture by pretending to be emotionless and trying to stay awake.
One of the main differences from the other versions is the hopeful ending. This time the process can be reversed and the point is made very strongly that while brainwashed conformism might bring about peace in the world, it is at the expense of free will and human error.
1.The poor reception of the film, critically, the public? The strengths of the film in itself? In comparison with the previous versions?
2.The film in itself: the plot, characters, treatment, suspense, themes?
3.The fifty years since the original film? Different perspectives, on science, aliens, medicine, society, politics? The contemporary references to Iraq and other troubles?
4.The ending, not pessimistic? Reversing the possession? The affirmation of free will? Despite evils?
5.The prologue, its effect, Carol and her searching for the medicine to keep her awake?
6.Carol in herself, her relationship with Ben? With her husband? The divorce, his making contact after years, with Oliver? Her work with Ben?
7.The situation, the CNN news, the spacecraft, destruction, aliens?
8.Tucker and his friends, their being transformed? The pressure on Carol, on Oliver? The encounters, their being chased? Tucker breathing on Carol? Her being infected?
9.The nature of contact, the infection, changes, people becoming pods? The response? The internal mental changes? Conformism? The possibilities for peace?
10.Carol and the dangers, for Oliver, collecting him, his immune system? The other children, the other mothers? Their change?
11.The population changing, the way they walked, exhibiting no emotions? People being captured for emotions? The trains, the streets, the chases?
12.Doctor Galeano and the tests, the laboratories, information, flying to laboratories, the contacts?
13.Ben, his help – and his being transformed?
14.The challenge for Carol to stay awake, the pills, Oliver helping her, her going to sleep? The animated visuals of the effect inside the person?
15.Doctor Galeano, the antidote, the reversal? The domestic sequences at the end?
16.Conformism as bad, normal appearances, the aspects of brainwashing?
