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Code 46
on DVD (2003)
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Brief synopsis of Code 46
Set in Shanghai in the near future, CODE 46 takes place in a world where in-vitro fertilization, embryo splitting, and cloning have become so widespread that the government monitors all pregnancies to avoid incestuous births, whether on purpose or accidental. In Michael Winterbottom's science-fiction love story, Tim Robbins stars as Will, a fraud investigator who shows up at the huge Sphinx corporation to find out which employee has been making fake papelles--identity papers that allow people to travel. With an empathy virus inside of him so he can read people's minds, Will discovers that Maria Gonzalez (Samantha Morton) is the culprit, but he instantly falls in love with her and turns in someone else in her place, leading to a dangerous affair that jeopardizes his family, his career, and his life. The blossoming romance between Will and Maria is reminiscent of the classic BRIEF ENCOUNTER, in which two people are willing to risk so much for true love. Winterbottom, who previously scored such indie hits as 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE and WONDERLAND, combines with screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce, Academy Award winner Robbins, and Oscar nominee Morton in creating a unique vision of a technologically advanced but emotionally vapid future--except for those citizens who have been banished to the outside, where they struggle every day but have a greater understanding of what's real. CODE 46 is filled with twists, with the unexpected waiting around every corner, but at the heart of the film is the heartbreaking relationship between two compelling cinematic characters.
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Critics Reviews
Radio Times
Director Michael Winterbottom's film is set in a gloomy future in which human cloning and genetic manipulation are commonplace and reproduction is heavily regulated. Tim Robbins plays a fraud investigator who's sent to Shanghai to find the source of some counterfeit travel documents (travel is also restricted). There, he is mysteriously drawn to Samantha Morton, who is also his chief suspect. The movie is a blend of romance, science fiction, film noir and even the Oedipus myth but, despite the intriguing premise, it remains rather tedious. The storyline is plodding and obscure, and matters are not helped by the limited budget — sepia-tinted smog and existing buildings stand in for a future world. The film is partly salvaged by a terrific performance from Samantha Morton, but Robbins lacks spark. While this has its moments, it is too often as nondescript as its title.
Halliwell's Film Guide
The usual stuff of film noir is set in a bleakly limited future, where, instead of the expected heat of an illicit encounter, there is only a passionless void.
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