"Remember,
remember the fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and plot. I know of no
reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot."
This is the opening narration for the 2006 film V For Vendetta. V
for Vendetta is a political thriller/adventure film that is set in the UK, but
was written by American film directors, The Wachowskis. The Wachowskis are also
known for: The Matrix series, Speed Racer, Cloud Atlas, Jupiter Ascending, and
Sense8. The film had a runtime of 145 minutes and was produced through Warner
Bros. Pictures. The plot of the film is set in a futuristic UK, the year 2027,
where a corrupt and totalitarian government is in power. V, is an anarchist
freedom fighter or vigilante who is working against the government in an
attempt to ignite a revolution through acts of terrorism. V is played by actor
Hugo Weaving. Evey, the female lead in the film, is a young woman who gets
unintentionally involved in V's mission.
As
seen in the included pictures, V wears a mask with the face of Guy Fawkes, who
tried to blow up the houses of parliament in 1605. Thus, it is only fitting
that V wear the mask in this film. One striking detail, is that V’s face is
never revealed throughout the entire plot. V for Vendetta follows V’s plan over
a 12-month period until the night that he plans to land his final blow against
the corrupt government.
The film is based on the 1988 graphic novel by authors Alan Moore
and David Lloyd (also titled V For Vendetta).
By
December of 2006, ten months after its US release in March of the same year, V
for Vendetta had already earned a total of $132,511,035 universally. Of this
amount, $70,511,035 was from the United States box offices. The film was number
one in countries such as, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea Sweden, and
Taiwan. General criticisms from the film were mixed. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a
73% on its ‘Tomatometer’ and it gained an ‘Audience Score’ of 90%.
V
for Vendetta’s controversial story line brings forth several important issues, that
are just as important now as well as when it was released in 2006.
Issues such
as: terrorism, homosexuality and homophobia, religion, and totalitarianism.
These themes are constantly met throughout the duration of the film in unique
and effective manners. However, there have been protests toward the film’s
message in that it is ‘watered-down’ in favor of violence and special effects.
This protect took effect the same year as the film’s release by the New York
Metro Alliance of Anarchists. On the other hand, however, the film was praised
for its depiction of the LGBTQ community.
What
I believe deserves recognition is Hugo Weaving’s acting as V in the film. His
masked face captivated audiences worldwide, but what I believe stood out is how
he brought his role together by his body movements, mannerisms, and his velvet
voice. When an actor’s face is hidden, it often withholds aspects of acting
that the average audience member does not take into consideration. However,
these aspects are what brings an acting performance together. The face holds
emotions, reactions, and facial features that tie into the dialogue and help to
‘make’ a character. Weaving was left with other aspects to bring V together and
it is my opinion that he pulls it off effortlessly.
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