I have recently taken to going though my back catalogue of films looking for something to blog about. It is through this random trawling that I came across a film I haven't watched in ages, the post apocalyptic film that is I am Legend. now, although this is strictly speaking a zombie film, it is one of a far more dramatic vein than most that I watch. Part of this is due to the time setting, being in a far more established future, 3 years after the infection has broken out. Also it focuses on a solitary character, Robert Neville, and the day-today of his life surviving a zombie-esque virus outbreak.
By focusing on the human element of the story, and narrowing the perspective to just one character, we are able to fully explore the psyche of our protagonist. The level to which we can empathise to Robert, is a testament to Will Smith's acting chops, as he has very little dialogue. This is because he has no one left to talk to, save for his trusty dog Sam. The interaction between Robert and Sam is heart-wrenching to say the least. As the film develops, we see more and more how much isolation has affected Robert's ability to cope with his daily routines. Frequently he has whole conversations with Sam, leaving pauses for response that only he can hear.
The desperation of Robert's scenario is shown at its peak with the death of Sam. After three years of no company but one man and his dog, the loss of this ever faithful companion, leaves him desolate, and seeking conversation with mannequins to fill the void. We see Robert talking to mannequins at earlier points in the film, but it always has a sense of levity to it. Like he is happy to throw idle chit chat at inanimate objects just to keep himself occupied. But when he confronts one mannequin, after Sam has died, and he weepingly begs them to say "hello" back to him, we get to see the cracks in sanity burst open through his awareness that he is alone.
Smith's performance throughout the entire first half of the film is enough to carry the whole piece on merit. But I feel that the second half does a lot to reduce that effort in the beginning. My main concern is with the portrayal of the 'infected'. While the majority of zombie based films will settle for slapping a bit of blood and make up on a person to give the effects of death, I often find myself wishing they had added a little more to it. In this case I wish they had taken some more away. The infected are almost entirely computer generated, and so have that crisp smooth look of being digital, in a film where the major strength so far has been the realism of Smith's acting. It leaves the monsters of the piece looking a little cartoony, and depleting their impact on screen when they are present and getting up to all sorts of mischief.
But as I said, this detail is more of a by-line in the film, when compared to the soulful and melancholic presentation of Robert by Smith. He has adopted an odd squint and grimace that belies his thoughts, and adds depth to the character, as if showing his constant state of anxiety and paranoia that the day he is currently living out could be his last. So we see him roaming around the empty city streets of New york, hunting game, farming crops and scouting for supplies, to show how by creating his own normality within an abnormal circumstance, he is able to keep those anxieties at bay as best he can.
Speaking of the deserted streets of New York, this is something that is truly a spectacle to see. I cannot even begin to comprehend the logistical nightmare of blocking off areas of Manhattan for some of these shots. Although you know it must have been done most with CG back-drops for the wider establishing shots, it does nothing to remove from the grandeur of the images. A sky line and city we are so used to seeing in popular culture as being the city that never sleeps, being transformed almost literally into an urban jungle is so profound, that it has to be viewed to be appreciated.
So the film as a whole is watchable, but not unmissable. If you are a fan of Will Smith, and I can't imagine many who aren't, then it is definitely worth watching for his performance alone. Keep an eye out for a cameo from his daughter Willow "Whip My Hair" Smith too. As a zombie film, far from the standard, an an interesting new perspective on the genre. But if it is something a little more gratifying in the zombie department that you are after, I would recommend sticking to the classics.
Happy viewing...
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