Review of Repo Men (2010) by Mike C — 03 Aug 2011

Most of my vote is on the concept alone. Though it's major sci-fi, is it really? Though the movie has its many flaws, the concept would make for a great after-bar discussion at 2 am.

A company makes artificial body parts and sells them at a high price. When the transplantees cannot pay, the company sends out a collector to repo the goods. Sure, it happens all the time with homes, cars, boats, etc, but organs? At first it seems like a major stretch, but all things considered, maybe it's not.

First, some ideas: it seems like bad business to just kill the people. Even if they are three months behind, scare them into another monthly payment, then kill them. Then, why are people complaining? If they were as good as dead before the transplant, take the entire three months on credit and consider the three months a gift. Third, who is paying for all this clean-up? If the company can murder someone on the train, I think they should have to clean it up, not the taxpayers. Finally, what would be the point of extending life just to be a runaway? The nests are all dirty and basically slaves, so I don't think it's even worth the trouble to get the transplant. Many other questions, some even pointing towards major plot holes (what was the purpose of scanning themselves out at the end when they'd still have to get through the people who knew they weren't paid up??).

The action scenes were pretty ridiculous, as were the various lines of product. A mechanical heart is cool and practical. Mechanical everything to accessorize life? Well, Americans probably would eat that right up actually.

The big concept is the state of health. Should a company that basically makes life sell it as such a high price? What role should the government play? Would the government ever allow murder by said company? In a country that worships capitalism, it seems a company can make a product and sell it at any price. The market would dictate the demand. Those afraid of death probably would pay a high price even to an evil company. Those same free-marketers would want the government to play little role, and when your government is for sale, that's not hard to believe either. Again, free market would take care of it. When people are too scared to buy the product, it goes under. Finally, yes, I think the government would allow the murder. Laws are constantly changing, often for the benefit of business and detriment to man. It is not unimaginable that a government would sell out to a company like this.

All medical, social, and political discussions aside, the movie is kinda flaky. None of the patients really fight back, etc. Jude Law, and his female sidekick naturally kick everyone's ass. And the ending is just plain ridiculous. But I could talk for days about the basic idea!