‘Aeon Flux’ mixes sexual energy and action
Following in the daring footsteps of Angelina Jolie (“Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”), Halle Berry (“Catwoman”) and Kate Beckinsale (“Underworld”), Charlize Theron (“The Italian Job”) has now embodied the role of a sexy, female fighting machine. Wearing tight black clothing and a stoic expression, Theron plays the title role of a fist-flying assassin. And while most actresses experience a slump in prestige after starring in an action film, Theron doesn’t totally plummet into humiliation. In fact, she keeps a considerable distance from it by leading a film with credible supporting performances and an intelligent plot.
Set 400 years into the future, Earth has been ravaged by a disease, leaving only 1 percent of the world’s population alive. This small civilization lives in a quiet, enclosed city ruled over by a tyrannical government, which Aeon (pronounced ‘eeon’) tries to overthrow by assassinating its top leader.
We soon realize that things are not what they seem in this sterile, technology-laden society. This film, surprisingly, evolves into something more than just a mission-to-kill as Aeon unexpectedly discovers her past and succumbs to feelings of passion that slowly surface along her murderous journey.
This film provides a sleek and somewhat creative representation of the future, displaying subtle, ultra-contemporary set designs mixed with unnatural sound editing. These technical elements cause the film to have a forsaken, almost haunting, quality. “Aeon Flux” is predictably dark and rapid for an action film as the plot moves forward with lots of jarring combat scenes livening up the actors (who all appear to be just as robotic as the technology that surrounds them). Theron does well uttering pessimistic one-liners with her deep, monotone voice. But she gradually reveals a slim emotional depth that makes her seem less like a stereotype and more like a red-blooded woman who is merely concealed by her tough armor of black Spandex.
“Aeon Flux” doesn’t try too hard to be amazing. It is packed with an efficient balance of violence, intrigue and romance. None of the plot developments are too flashy and none of them are too simple. Directed by the relatively inexperienced Karyn Kusama (“Girlfight”), “Aeon Flux” has some moments where the dialogue and storyline are conventional and prosaic. But the film has notable uniqueness in its blatantly abstract style and consistent maturity.
This maturity is not only contributed to the film by Theron, but by her list of co-stars as well. Frances McDormand (“Something’s Gotta Give”) is effortlessly mysterious as Aeon’s mentor and Sophie Okonedo (“Hotel Rwanda”) adds a thickness to the plot as Aeon’s valiant partner in warfare. Marton Csokas (“Kingdom of Heaven”) rounds out the main supporting characters playing the heartless government ruler with a compelling, ambiguous charm.
It’s impossible to ignore the fact that this film is pulsing with sexual energy throughout. Perhaps that is the main reason that this film remains so true to the animated television series on which it is based. Everyone does well creating a semi-complex puzzle in which all the pieces slowly fit together to make a stylish whole.
Casey T. Allen is a movie critic for the Utah Statesman. Comments can be sent to caseyal@cc.usu.edu.