Review of Code 46 (2003) by Arlene S — 28 Jan 2013

This is a movie with a cool concept, but a cliched and flat story. Another forbidden romance film, with a sci-fi hook. Michael Winterbottom gives the film an interesting detached coolness, remote and alien.

Which is interesting for the sci fi part of it, but totally undercuts the personal story that is being told. Not that it is told well, I don't think I've ever watched a movie where the stakes were so low, so uninvolved.

There are literally no big conflicts, everything is handled within minutes cooly and calmly. What's even worse is Tim Robbins. God is he bad. It's like watching a wet blanket. A big boring wooden, dull performance where he just says his lines and looks forward expressionless.

This is juxtaposed against Samantha Morton who makes the best case Ive seen to play a replica if they reboot Blade Runner. Her performance is odd, intriguing, and foreign. They might as well not be acting in the same movie.

To say they don't have chemistry is putting it lightly. If they could just find some interesting people or things to follow around in this world, but it's an unfortunate bore.