The Island (2005)

DIRECTOR: Michael Bay

CAST:

Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Sean Bean, Djimon Hounsou, Steve Buscemi, Michael Clarke Duncan

REVIEW:

There’s an intriguing idea at the heart of The Island, but the fact that the director’s chair is occupied by Michael Bay instead of, say, Steven Spielberg or Ridley Scott should clue one in as to how deeply it’s going to be explored. Bay’s forte isn’t developing fascinating ideas, it’s a lot of whizz-bang flashy action extravaganza that might provide a momentary thrill ride for those who don’t demand too much but has about as much depth as a shallow puddle by the side of the road. The Island initially seems like it might aim a little higher with an intriguing premise, but it’s disappointing how quickly it surrenders to expected Bay form.

In the not-too-distant future, mankind has apparently been nearly wiped out by some form of global contamination and reduced to living in a sterile, carefully controlled underground environment where inhabitants are encouraged to live as contented sheep who don’t ask questions or rebel against the rules. The light at the end of the tunnel is provided by a lottery that regularly selects one lucky resident to go to “The Island”, a paradise untouched by the contamination. But Lincoln Six Echo (Ewan McGregor) suspects things aren’t what they seem. Firstly, although the entire outside world (except for The Island, conveniently enough) is supposedly contaminated, survivors are continually being found and added to the group. Another red flag that something sinister is going on is the fact that the head doctor is played by Sean Bean. Bean is capable of more varied roles, but he tends to get typecast as one-dimensional heavies, and he lives up to that reputation here. Soon, Lincoln and another resident, Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson) discover the shocking truth: both the contamination and The Island are lies to keep them under control, and they are clones created for wealthy clients as “life insurance policies”, their organs to be harvested if their real-life alter egos need them (hence the much-coveted “lottery”, which is merely a cover for the not-so-lucky winner to be led away like a sheep to the slaughter). Finding themselves on the run, Lincoln and Jordan are pursued by a team of mercenaries (led by Gladiator’s Djimon Hounsou) and struggling to learn how to survive in the outside world and find their alter egos.

In the hands of a director more interested in exploring them, the premise of The Island offers fertile ground for all kinds of fascinating ideas and ethical dilemmas. The first hour or so of the movie has its share of intrigue, as we see the workings of the enclosed community and Lincoln starts snooping around. It’s possible to exactly pinpoint when the movie completely abandons any real interest in favor of standard issue Michael Bay action: when Lincoln and Jordan make their escape into the real world. From then on out, it’s everything we expect from Michael Bay (which isn’t much), lots of action, jerky camera movements, slow-motion shots to make the characters look “cool”, one-liners, car chases, and a generic climax involving Lincoln and our evil doctor having a little mano-a-mano and lots of stuff blowing up. Sci-fi and cloning take a backseat as backdrop for the action sequences. Along the way, all the generic running around is broken up a little by some amusing comic relief moments as the severely sheltered Lincoln and Jordan try to orient themselves in the real world. The most clever bit comes when Lincoln meets his “sponsor” (also, of course, played by McGregor), but overall, the second half of The Island plays like a non-interactive video game where we’re just watching people and cars and helicopters race around and stuff go boom and look “cool” while doing it. In other words, a typical Michael Bay movie.

The Island doesn’t allow much character development, but Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson make a likable pair. To the extent that we stay involved, it’s because of their appeal. McGregor gets to show a little range by playing both innocent, wide-eyed Lincoln and his more cynical and not necessarily trustworthy “sponsor” Tom (Tom also gives McGregor the chance to slip back into his native Scottish accent, while as Lincoln he spends the majority of the movie adopting an American one which sounds a little forced). No one else has hardly anything to do, and certainly not anything challenging.  Djimon Hounsou’s striking looks and commanding presence are wasted as he spends the movie chasing McGregor and Johansson around.  Likewise, Sean Bean goes through the motions as the one-note villain, a part he could play in his sleep.  Steve Buscemi is his usual quirky oddball self in a smaller role, and Michael Clarke Duncan has little more than a cameo. No one else merits mention.

It’s a little frustrating to watch a movie like The Island, that has a fascinating core premise and briefly flirts with the possibilities it offers before veering off into a generic action flick. With a director as interested in ideas as action, it could have been in the same league as The Matrix and Minority Report. As it is, The Island bears more resemblance to the lamer John Woo-Ben Affleck flick Paycheck (of which all this is also true, only more so), and is left far in their wake.
**1/2