On Film: I am Legend

Directed by Francis Lawrence

Starring Will Smith

Let me start by saying that I've never read the book upon which this film is based.  I have seen one of the two previous film adaptations of the story, The Omega Man.  Going into this film I was telling my friends that this movie has a lot to live up with because The Omega Man was so great.  After seeing I am Legend I have to say that it doesn't even exist in the same world as The Omega Man.  The Omega Man is fantastically campy and socially relevant for its time but I am Legend is something more, something seriously dramatic and impactful and also socially relevant.

The Movie

Will Smith plays a military scientist responsible for research in the New York City area.  Apparently a vaccine has been discovered that cures cancer.  Cut to three years later and everyone in New York is either dead or is a mutant that can only exist in shadow because the sunlight kills them accept for Robert Neville (Will Smith).  Neville lives a solitary existence with only his dog Sam and a bunch of mannequins as company.  Neville follows a fairly strict routine of exercise, hunting, and research on mutants.  He takes the blame for the out break of this plague and he's determined to find a cure.  He broadcasts a radio message everyday that says where and when he will be waiting if anyone gets the message.

Will Smith is someone I don't typically think of as an amazing actor.  He's not bad by any means but he seems to mostly exist on charisma.  In this film he takes on a role similar to the one that Tom Hanks took on for the film Castaway.  Most of the film finds Smith being the only human actor on screen so he has to literally carry the film on his shoulders.  His ability to make us care about the character and his motivations will either make or break the story.  The only breaks from the action come in the form of flashbacks that share with us the final moments Neville spent with his family and that give us some back story to define his guilt and his determination.  I'm happy to inform that Smith is amazing in the film.  His performance here may be his career best.  He runs a range of emotions with no vocal interaction with other characters.  Again, all he has is the dog, who is also quite good in the film.

There are three key scenes in this film that are defining moments and are dramatically affective.  The first is a simple emotionally tragic moment Smith has to impart with nothing but facial expression.  The second is a monologue Smith gives defining not only who Bob Marley was but what his relevance is in Neville's current situation.  The final one is a short monologue that defines why the movie has the title it has.  All three of these moments are some of the best experience I've had in a theater this year.

I am Legend can be a tough film for today's home video spoiled short attention span having audiences.  Not because it's too long because it's definitely not, but because much of this film's elegance is in its silence.  Many people get uncomfortable when films get too quiet and too subtle so they feel the need to fill the space with something whether it be dumb comments or inappropriate laughter.  So get ready because you may find yourself shushing someone in the theater nearby.  This is an amazing film with gorgeous art design, top notch writing and acting, and subtle direction.  The director ahs previously done music videos so it's surprising to see him take his time with this film and just let many scenes exist without throwing in tons of quick cuts.  I really have no complaints about this film.  For a minute after the closing credits I almost wished for a different ending but without the ending we got we wouldn't have gotten the beautiful narration that perfectly closes the film.  Go see this film, it's one of the best of the year.

10/10

-Stephen Lackey