The overwhelming success of ‘The Matrix’ led to a growing interest in Hollywood in making science fiction films along these lines, but none came even remotely close to the one starring Keanu Reeves. Of all those successors, I have always felt a special weakness for ‘Equilibrium’, a dystopia starring Christian bale.
Released at the end of 2002, ‘Equilibrium’ came with everything against it, since it took over a tight budget of 20 million dollars and its arrival in theaters was done without much hype and with the public already paying attention to the fact that the first two sequels of the ‘Matrix’ saga were going to arrive the following year. That was undoubtedly one of the causes of its resounding failure at the box office, since its worldwide income barely exceeded 5 million.
Of course, in Spanish cinemas we never got to see it and it has been a title that borders on the category of cursed in our country. In fact, It did not premiere here until 12 years later and directly on Canal+but it has never had a really legal edition in physical format -because the blu-ray that is for sale is not-.
Destroyed by critics and loved by the public
It also didn’t help that the criticism was very harsh with her -it has 40% positive ratings on Rotten Tomatoes and an average score of just 33 out of 100 on Metacritic-. However, the public’s evaluations are much more positive, something that was key for it to quickly become a cult film.
‘Equilibrium’ presents us with a totalitarian regime that arose after World War III in which having emotions is considered a crime, which has led to the prohibition of various artistic expressions. The character played by Bale is one of the best government agents when it comes to liquidating those who go against some rules that at the time led to the execution of his own wife. Everything gets complicated when an incident leads him to come into contact with his emotions and there is no turning back…
I am not going to deny that it would have been fabulous for ‘Equilibrium’ to have a more generous budget and nor that perhaps its references are too obvious, from the ‘Matrix’ itself to such emblematic novels as ‘1984’ either ‘Fahrenheit 451’but dismissing it as a forgettable pastiche of alien ideas seems to me a serious mistake.
In fact, visually it looks wonderful for the cost it had and the action scenes are much better choreographed than in productions that easily multiply their budget by 5 or 10. Furthermore, it is noted that Kurt Wimmerscriptwriter and director, takes what he proposes seriously, proposing a cocktail that is concerned with inviting reflection but also with making everyone have a great time who does not have a problem letting go a little and is not obsessed with looking for possible Script gaps, there are a few, it’s okay to say it.
It is clear that ‘Equilibrium’ does not reach the level of ‘Matrix’ -because miracles like that do not occur as often as we all would like-, but also that it does surpass the sequels of the capital work of science fiction cinema directed by the Wachowskis.
Unfortunately, ‘Equilibrium’ is not currently available within the subscription of any platform in Spain and the only option to watch it in streaming is paying separately on Amazon Prime Video, but if you have been wanting to see it, you can do it on Paramount Network this afternoon from 17:55
In Espinof | ‘Matrix’: in what order should you watch all the movies and short films in the saga (and where do video games fit)