Equilibrium

2002 Action/Adventure

A man who dares to feel finds his life in danger in this cautionary science fiction drama. In the future, after a Third World War has decimated much of the Earth's population, a new nation known as Libria rises up under the unquestioned leadership of Dupont (Angus MacFadyen). Believing human emotions and their expression were to blame for the failings of past societies, The Father has decreed that all citizens must take a daily dose of Prozia II, a drug which levels out the emotional landscape, and that all forms of creative expression are against the law; violating either regulation can be punished by death. John Preston (Christian Bale) is a Grammaton, an elite law enforcement officer who tracks down and punishes "sense offenders." One day, Preston accidentally fails to take his Prozia II, and for the first time begins experiencing emotions himself. Preston becomes aware of an underground of rebels who refuse to take their medication and have embraced art and literature, and he finds himself becoming infatuated with one of their number, Mary O'Brian (Emily Watson). Equilibrium is the second feature-length directorial effort from Kurt Wimmer, whose screenwriting credits include The Thomas Crown Affair and Sphere. more..

Director: Kurt Wimmer

Starring: Christian Bale, Emily Watson, Taye Diggs, Angus Macfadyen, Sean Pertwee

Reviews

  • Would be a mindless action picture, except that it has a mind. It doesn't do a lot of deep thinking, but unlike many futuristic combos of sf and f/x, it does make a statement:

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    19 January 2013

  • The martial-arts sequences take this prosaic thriller to a higher level.

    Claudia Puig - USA Today

    19 January 2013

  • Just because it's a good idea doesn't mean it's easy to do well. Screenwriter-turned-director Kurt Wimmer has a hard time keeping his actors from, well, acting a lot of the time.

    Michael O'Sullivan - The Washington Post

    19 January 2013

  • Not a picture that makes you think very much -- except to wonder why the studios keep making movies like this.

    Michael Wilmington - The Chicago Tribune

    19 January 2013

  • Equilibrium just happens to be a really bad comic book.

    Ty Burr - The Boston Globe

    19 January 2013

Awards

  • Outstanding Achievement in Fight Choreography

    American Choreography Awards (2003)

     
  • Overlooked Film of the Year

    Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards (2003)