[yasr_overall_rating]
In a terrifying care-free future, a young man, Guy Montag, whose job as a fireman is to burn all books, questions his actions after meeting a young woman…and begins to rebel against society.
So much dystopic futures revolve around the imagery first established in the cyberpunk aesthetic. From “Blade Runner” to “Equilibrium” to “Mute” to “Blade Runner 2049,” it’s hard to watch a movie with dark textures, big neon signs, and not claim it derivative of “Blade Runner.” How do we parse the aesthetics apart and tell what is original and what is imitative? “Fahrenheit 451” strikes enough of a balance between thematic text, concrete plotting, and raw aesthetic to differentiate it from all the other imitators.
I never read the book. I failed to understand exactly why someone wrote a book about firefighters who burn books. As it turns out, this movie helped bridge that gap for me and teach me to appreciate the depth of the story involved here.
Montag (Michael B. Jordan), a firefighter in a dystopic future, burns books. After lingering doubts about his origin mounts, he questions the underlying beliefs of his society, leading him crashing down a precipice to illumination. It all starts with one woman martyring herself for books. This concept (stoled in the aforementioned “Equilibrium”) revolves around the basic idea that: whoever controls the flow of information controls the populace. The finale of the movie delves deeper than that, but suffice to say this film delves deep into its message.
The cast on a film like this helps carry it to an entertaining vision. Michael Shannon is a gift I’m only just now realizing. Michael B. Jordan, as a full-tilt movie star now in his life, brings intelligence and a moody tone to Montag. Sofia Boutella contributes to the film in playing the devil on Montag’s shoulder. Truthfully, it’s Michael B. Jordan’s world we’re all here to play in it. Jordan always delivers on performance, imbuing every role with just the right amount of tension and darkness. His scenes with Shannon really sing as both play Devil’s advocate trying to argue both sides to book burning.
HBO clearly spared no expense on this movie: practical fire effects, global movie stars, exorbitant buildings with neon outlines, future technology painted into frames. It’s an R-rated blockbuster snuck on to HBO’s plate. The success of the film lands in its storytelling. Even as we delve into the psychology of this future world we must see Montag crack and crack under curiosity until he finally shatters and explores the alternative world: the book rebellion.
The movie’s finale summarizes much of what the film serves: glorious production design amplifying the performances of these stars in action plotting. The finale’s dark and tense ending provides a dim light for the future as an idea literally becomes embodied in a dove. While the film adds rich visuals to the text, much of the movie faded from my memory after watching it. Only the final ten minutes really stuck with me. The literary ending provides the viewer a sense of completion even as the tragedy of the story sinks in. It is its own movie and feels distinctly separate from its dystopic future cousins. I recommend watching it for the star power!
Now available on Digital HD, Blu-ray & DVD
