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Wednesday, April 24, 2024
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HOLLYWOOD WORLD WAR Z
EDITOR'S PICK
"World War Z" is a subtle combination of a medical thriller and a
horror film. Packed with fleetingly captivating emotional moments and mobs of
panic-stricken people running from something we cannot see, the film evokes
mixed reaction.
Inspired by, if not really based on Max Brooks` novel with the same name, the
story is about zombie - Apocalypse.
Director Marc Froster wastes no time in introducing the conflict into the
narration. After the initial two scenes of family bonding, Gerry Lane (Brad
Pitt), a former UN investigator, along with his wife Karen (Mireille Enos) and
two daughters (Sterling Jerins and Abigail Hargrove), are caught in the mayhem
on the streets of Philadelphia, where a section of the mob appears to have gone
insane, randomly attacking others.
Suddenly, the city becomes a disaster zone, infested with zombies.
Thierry (Fana Mokoena), the under secretary of the UN, arranges to have the
Lanes rescued, and taken to an aircraft carrier in the Atlantic. Here, Gerry is
pressurised to return to the field to find an answer to the malaise.
For the safety of his family, Gerry agrees to lead the investigation. The task
takes him from South Korea to Jerusalem and finally to meet with survivors at
the World Health Organization building in Cardiff, Wales.
In the film, the story is narrated through Gerry`s point of view, whereas in the
book, the story is narrated through a nameless journalist`s point of view. So,
beyond the international settings and the concept of depicting how different
world governments react in such a situation, the film doesn`t bear much
resemblance to Brooks` book and at the same time, shows us the magnitude of the
epidemic.
The wide angle aerial shots and the set action pieces are beautifully and
amazingly captured by cinematographer Robert Richardson. What`s commendable is
how the makers have beautifully merged film with the computer generated images
of the rushing zombies that lead to the mountainous heap of them piled up. That
breathtaking image will take some time to leave your mental space.
Though the film is overt and largely producer-actor Brad Pitt`s canvas, he fails
to create an impression which he critically desired. His soulful and non-triumphalist
central performance was largely unconvincing as; a harried and agitated father
or of a person who is thrown in such a momentous operation.
Despite the contributions of four writers, director Marc Frosters` endeavour
fails to enamour you. The film has gaping plot-holes especially with the
time-line of the story and the infestation. They do not sync.
And to top it all, the film that begins with a very promising and engaging
premise plateaus on to the climax as the denouement seems to be mechanical and
contrived, and that is its undoing.
Nevertheless, touted as the most expensive zombie film, this film is worth a
one-time watch!
