Equilibrium (2002)

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

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 | suppression of emotion | brainwashing | gun fu | law | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Emily Watson's character is named Mary O'Brien. Her last name is a possible reference to the prominent character O'Brien from George Orwell's famous novel 1984, which shares similar themes about repressing emotions and government surveillance.

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Goofs

In the final shoot out where Preston is fighting the guards in the hallway, he releases the magazines out of his guns and new magazines come out of his sleeves. The magazines that are inserted into the gun are the regular magazines he uses, but in the next shot when he begins shooting the magazines are obviously the round bottom ones.

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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 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

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Soundtracks

Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125: I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven

User Reviews

This is my scifi guilty pleasure!

I really enjoy this movie, it's not perfect, but its enjoyable and is a good package considering its low budget. Christian Bale's acting style compliments the cool emotionless feel to the movie, plus there's a bit of heart in there to. It is a bit gimmicky, yes, but it packs a punch, with simplistic costumes that look realistic, to the brutalistic architecture style. I really recommend this movie for a fun scifi movie night, but don't be overly serious or you will look like a emotionless dictator.

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 USA:

$541,512, 8 December 2002

Gross USA:

$1,203,794

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,368,217

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