Code 46 (2004)

Thanks for the memories!

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Holy moly did I ever love this movie. Right after watching it I gave it a 10 on IMDb and bought the soundtrack. Which, strangely has a pretty low ranking despite a whole whack of glowing reviews with similar feelings to my own. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be a massive understatement. In the future everything is controlled by the governments and corporations, pretty familiar so far, right? We are told right away over a series of shots that seem like it's no the future at all, but right now. That, people with genetic compatibility is prohibited. We aren't told the repercussions but we know this is a big no no. Anything above 25% if I remember correctly is not a thing that is tolerated in this society. And then, it's kind of never brought up again. William Geld (Tim Robbins) goes to Shanghai to try and solve a problem for a corporation. Some "papeles" have been flagged with people who have fake IDs. Basically, these papeles are issued by the totalitarian are what allow people to travel to other places, and keep people outside of the cities in shanties out of the cities. William meets a woman named Maria while investigating and a really unique and interesting love story happens. I don't want to give much away but what follows is super compelling. The soundtrack is fantastic, the acting, cinematography, and script is just fantastic. The world is interesting and compelling over time. At first, everything doesn't seem like it's the future at all, and then slowly we are introduced to future tech and cultural things that make it clear that we are not in in the present. My favorite thing was that it seems as though everyone in this world has a short hand that mixes a bunch of different languages. They apologize and refer to boys and girls in Spanish in Shanghai, a young boy speaks french to his father in Seattle, some Chinese words are mixed throughout.Another thing is the concept of consensual viruses that alter people's minds. Code 46 infects everyone and forces them to do something specific, the main character has an empathy virus he uses to immediately discern things about people so long as they offer up something personal about themselves. It's a super neat concept.

Short, Sweet and to the Point...if you ever want to see a Film that will make you Think, and make you a little Sad...this is it! If you ever want to see a Film where the premise, promise, characters and story...pull you in, this is it! If you ever want to see a Film where you Feel, without being Forced, this is it!CODE 46 doesn't try hard, beg or gimmick you into caring about the outcome of these doomed Lovers...you just will!*Spoiler Alert*...and you're left with this thought. What would it be like to be Hopelessly in Love with Someone, Who was also Hopelessly in Love with You...but No Longer Knew It?

in a strange manner, it is a gem. a Sci Fi in a romantic - cruel manner. a memorable atmosphere - mixture between alcohols and fragile velvet. its key - the acting. and the look of Samantha Morton. a film about basic truth. emotions, love, search, resistance against society cages. drawing of ordinary life, it can be a kind of poem. because the beauty and force of images are frame for a story about each viewer. Tim Robbins is the same. precise exploration of nuances, science of detail, silhouette of feelings. and the memories for many negative utopia. must see it ! only for the taste of few events - bones of ordinary existence in new light, with gentle delicacy

I remember watching Code 46 accidentally in a theater shortly after it's release. It was substitute for another movie that a group i was with missed. Describing it afterwards as a low-budget SF drama was misleading but i had no better choice of words...Some years down the road, i've purchased the DVD and saw it again. Code 46 appeared much slower than i remembered. However, what impressed me again were the details with which the authors addressed the cultural, political and environmental changes in the near future: The cars are almost inaudible; You infect yourself with a virus that helps you learn a language; You need a visa to travel which looks like a bus ticket (even overseas) etc.There are some poetic elements that might spoil your fun, but they were presumably necessary to reinforce the authors' artistic standpoint.Overall this is a very good movie.