Equilibrium (2002)

In a fascist future where all forms of feeling are illegal, a man in charge of enforcing the law rises to overthrow the system.

Director:

Kurt Wimmer

Writer:

Kurt Wimmer

Stars:

Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Emily Watson

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christian Bale	...	John Preston
Dominic Purcell	...	Seamus
Sean Bean	...	Partridge
Christian Kahrmann	...	Officer in Charge
John Keogh	...	Chemist
Sean Pertwee	...	Father
William Fichtner	...	Jurgen
Angus Macfadyen	...	Dupont (as Angus MacFadyen)
David Barrash	...	Evidentiary Storage Officer
Dirk Martens	...	Gate Guard
Taye Diggs	...	Brandt
Matthew Harbour	...	Robbie Preston
Maria Pia Calzone	...	Preston's Wife
Emily Siewert	...	Lisa Preston
Emily Watson	...	Mary O'Brien

Storyline

In a futuristic world, a strict regime has eliminated war by suppressing emotions: books, art and music are strictly forbidden and feeling is a crime punishable by death. Cleric John Preston (Bale) is a top ranking government agent responsible for destroying those who resist the rules. When he misses a dose of Prozium, a mind-altering drug that hinders emotion, Preston, who has been trained to enforce the strict laws of the new regime, suddenly becomes the only person capable of overthrowing it.

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Plot Keywords:

dystopia | law | cleric | fascist | post apocalypse | 

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Taglines:

In a future where freedom is outlawed outlaws will become heroes.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 December 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Librium

Filming Locations:

Germany

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$541,512 (USA) (6 December 2002)

Gross:

$1,190,018 (USA) (20 December 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dimension Films, Blue Tulip Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Two hundred people were interviewed for the role of Partridge and filming had already started when Lucas Foster brought Sean Bean in, having convinced him to take the role.

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Goofs

The William Butler Yeats book that Errol keeps is larger and much thicker when he is reading it in the Nethers, compared to when we see it in the car.

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Quotes

[first lines]
DuPont: In the first years of the 21st century, a third World War broke out. Those of us who survived knew mankind could never survive a fourth; that our own volatile natures could simply no longer be risked. So we have created a new arm of the law: The Grammaton Cleric, whose sole task it is to seek out and eradicate the true source of man's inhumanity to man - his ability to feel.

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Connections

References Dune (1984)

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Soundtracks

Beethoven's Symphony No. 9
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven

User Reviews

Forget the Matrix, indeed.

If you are a fan of such books as Brave New World, 1984, The Giver, or This Perfect Day or movies like the Matrix and Logan's Run--Equilibrium is just the movie for you. In addition to a terrifying plot set in our very own future, the movie has mind-blowing action sequences that are choreographed beautifully (but not obviously) and shot brilliantly and spectacular acting on the part of Christian Bale. I hate predictable movies and this one is anything but...there are so many twists and turns, you'll be on the edge of your seat with suspense the majority of the time. I was hooked within the first minute! Whether you love action or a great plot line, this movie gives the Matrix trilogy (especially Reloaded and Revolutions) a run for its money--to say the least.