schoosskyler
November 4, 2017
9
With the litany of comic book films being made in 2017, it's hard to understand the role V for Vendetta has played in 'Comic Book Movie' culture. This was one of the early successes of the genre and it continues to shine today in ways other movies (I'm looking at you, Marvel) have not.
The grittiness of the story cannot be understated, this story is DARK. However, the message of the story is one of hope, and hope is a difficult thing to capture. This film captures both, with the help of excellent cinematography and slow-motion action cuts.
I get the sense when I watch this film that something bigger is happening around me, and honestly in 2017, this movie feels more relevant than ever. Themes of state-run media empires, government corruption of the highest order, and the suffocation of all that is 'other' permeates the fabric of this film, and everything is captured beautifully in a noir-esque nightmarescape of future, facist London.
I can honestly say that more than a decade later, this film still shines as one of the great comic book movies and its themes will continue to ring true as long as we have people in the world who exist to limit others. Let's just hope that someday this world does not feel any more real than it does now.
V for Vendetta movie isn't a movie I really ever loved when I first saw it back in 2006 and again I think when it came out on DVD or Blu-ray some years ago, and after re-viewing this time... I pretty much feel the same way. It features some good performances from Hugo Weaving (commendable since it was almost completely behind a mask) and Natalie Portman. However, it is a bit heavy handed and too on the nose (perhaps that is in keeping with the graphic novel), and I didn't really have an emotional connection with the characters or story. There's also nothing that really stands out from scene to scene. **3.5/5**
**Score: 10/10 — An Unshakeable, Flawless Cinematic Masterpiece**
Some films entertain. Some films provoke. And then there is *V for Vendetta*—a rare, volatile work that does both with a ferocity that has not dimmed in the years since its release. It is a film that ignites the imagination, challenges the conscience, and delivers its message with the force of an explosion scored to Tchaikovsky. It is a faultless film in writing, direction, casting, acting, and filming—a perfect object that earns every point of its 10/10 score.
**The Writing: A Political Allegory That Bites**
From the opening monologue—where nearly every other word begins with the letter "v"—to the blistering, confrontational speeches that punctuate the narrative, the script is a masterclass in intelligent, purposeful dialogue. It is a beautifully delivered text by Hugo Weaving, who, despite being behind a mask for the entire film, communicates the character's wit, rage, and tragedy. The film asks questions about the price we are willing to pay by giving up freedom to feel safe, arguing that the term "terrorist" is defined by perspective. It holds a mirror to the world, revealing the terrifying ease with which fear can be weaponised and liberty surrendered. The writing is so potent that the film has become a cultural touchstone, its imagery and ideas echoing through protests and political discourse to this day.
**The Direction: A Visual Symphony of Dystopian Dread**
Director James McTeigue, working from the Wachowskis' script, orchestrates the film with a relentless, visually arresting pace. The film's world—a fascist Britain under the thumb of the chillingly named Chancellor Adam Sutler—is rendered with a palpable, oppressive dread. The production design is a triumph of dystopian aesthetics, from the grey, despairing streets to the lush, defiant reds of the Shadow Gallery. The film's imagery, such as the iconic Guy Fawkes mask and the explosive finale at the Houses of Parliament, is burnt into the memory of cinema.
**The Casting and Acting: A Perfect Ensemble Delivering Career Best Work**
**Hugo Weaving as V:** Despite (or perhaps because of) the mask, Weaving delivers a career defining performance. He communicates menace, charisma, and profound tragedy through his posture and his voice alone. It is a tour de force of non verbal acting.
**Natalie Portman as Evey Hammond:** Portman gives her best performance since *Leon: The Professional*. Her transformation from a frightened, compliant citizen to a woman reborn through suffering is conveyed with breathtaking conviction.
**Stephen Rea as Inspector Finch:** Rea brings the weary, haunted humanity that provides the film's moral compass, a good cop in a horrifically compromised system.
**John Hurt as Chancellor Sutler:** Hurt's portrayal of the grotesque dictator is a chilling cameo, his presence a constant, looming menace.
**Stephen Fry as Gordon Deitrich:** Fry delivers a memorable, heartbreaking performance as Deitrich, a witty, closeted television presenter who becomes a quiet symbol of resistance and defiance. In a brief but pivotal role, he brings warmth, intelligence, and a profound sense of melancholy—a man who has learned to survive by burying his true self, and whose final act of courage is both tragic and heroic. His quiet dignity in the face of certain death is one of the film's most affecting moments.
**Supporting Cast:** The ensemble, including Tim Pigott Smith and Rupert Graves, is uniformly excellent.
**The Filmmaking and Score: Technical Mastery**
The cinematography is rich and evocative, grounding the comic book aesthetic in a tangible, grimy reality. The editing is crisp, the pacing relentless. The score by Dario Marianelli is a crucial character in the film's success. It pulses with urgency, soars with rebellion, and aches with tragedy, perfectly complementing the on screen action. The use of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" during the film's incendiary opening is a moment of pure, transcendent cinema.
**The Verdict**
*V for Vendetta* is a faultless cinematic achievement. It is a film of ideas, powered by breathtaking performances and executed with technical precision. It is a rallying cry for freedom, a meditation on the nature of power, and a deeply moving story of redemption and sacrifice. It is a work of art that has not aged a day and remains as necessary and powerful as the moment it was released. An undeniable 10/10 masterpiece.
