Equals (2015)

Please do not judge this movie based on the actors in it or you'll miss out on a goodie. Who ever wrote in another review, "A movie about suppressing your emotions will make you pretty emotional", is right. If you're an action, comedy type of movie person or you are not emotional at all, then you will mostly not find appreciation for a movie like this. When I watch movies, I always put myself in the characters positions and it allows me to appreciate a movie more. Obviously the idea of living in a world where we must suppress our emotions is highly unlikely but imagine if that's what it came to, because as a whole society we would be more productive. How would that effect you? I thought this movie did an excellent job drawing you in to the build up of the inevitable burst of emotions. There were times I was on the edge of my seat needing to know what was going to happen. The performances were great! And Stewart does an excellent job showing her emotions in this movie - just wait for the knock at the door. I do absolutely recommend this movie. Do you enjoy movies? Do you enjoy a challenge to think a bit deeper rather than surface stuff? Do you love a good love story, or even just a good, thoughtful, thought provoking, deep, raw movie? Can you enjoy a movie for the message it's bringing, even if it seems a little far fetched? If you answered yes to any one of the questions, check it out! For me, it stuck with me for days, made me question some things. I love a movie like that.

Fmovies: Equals is a Science fiction love story set in a dystopian future, where the citizens are de-sensitised from showing emotions and love. If you're wanting guns, aliens and corny one-liners then this movie is definitely not for you. If, on the other hand you like more sedate and intellectual sci-fi, then I strongly recommend 'Equals'. Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult play the lead roles with fine support from Guy Pearce and Jacki Weaver. The chemistry between the lead roles is spot on, the music score is great, the direction and screenplay by Drake Doremus are both excellent. Ignore the naysayers watch it, like me you might be greatly surprised

Drake Doremus' EQUALS, starring #KristenStewart and #NicholasHoult, is a sweet and fascinating Romeo & Juliet story. It has similar traits as Doremus' 2011 "Like Crazy" in that it plays into that deep longing and desire for someone and the system just wouldn't let these two souls be together. It's set in some kind of futuristic dystopian utopia, where society practically abolishes coupling, romance, even having some kind of feeling, which is why I say EQUALS is what those many young adult novel adaptations out there wish they could've been but weren't.

Written by Nathan Parker, the story has Kristen Stewart play Nia and Nicholas Hoult as Silas, two people in the same workplace, they have the same routine as everybody else in their company. This is a world where everybody gets assigned their jobs and they don't deviate from them. After years of wars and violence, society decides that it's best for mankind to not have any kind of emotions, so they've created a way for that to happen. Anybody who feels any type of emotion is said to have a bug and usually they get quarantined but even there they're told that they're worth nothing now and suicide is the only way. But Nia and Silas can't help noticing a growing attraction between them which leads to a forbidden relationship. Turns out, there are other 'hiders' as well, people who pretend they don't have emotions when in fact they do, and they're determined to help Nia and Silas escape.

Though it's not an adaptation, the film really does move and feel like those young adult novel adaptations, which is why I made the comparison earlier. But what Doremus successfully managed to do is focus on more on the relationship and less on any wishes for an uprising. The focus is mostly on Nia and Silas. And the actors who play them, Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult are so in sync, their chemistry doesn't just exist, it's electrifying. It's been a while, probably since "The Notebook," that a couple could have this much energy that burns the screen.

If you've come to see what type of science fiction technological advances this film might show, if it would have flying vehicles or laser weapons or talking robot, EQUALS has none of those things. It has some cool computers, but they're hardly the supporting roles. And that's what I also enjoy about this film, it's simple yet gripping, it's familiar territory but very up close and intimate. And Doremus' quiet, subtle yet stylistic approach lands perfectly. It's like if Stanley Kubrick and Spike Jonze co-made a movie together. EQUALS may not have been a completely new concept but this is one that's done really well. It's a deeply-affecting love story.

-- Rama's Screen --

Equals fmovies. I rate this 9 out of 10 only because the sound quality leaves much to be desired. Parts of the movie are so subdued it's difficult to understand what people are saying. I had to turn my video player to double volume just to hear the movie at low-standard volume. That cost it a point.

Other than that... without spoiling the plot, this is what Logan's Run and THX-1138 should have been. No pointless, time-wasting action, no gratuitous nudity, just sheer human emotion, drama and situation.

The directing is excellent. The acting is superb. I am very critical when it comes to films but I couldn't find a single conceptual or production flaw throughout (except for the aforementioned poor sound handling). This is an intriguing, fascinating story that leaves the viewer with mixed emotions. What would we prefer, a pristine, harm-free society in which emotion is subdued, or one full of emotion, beauty... and the pain brought about by those emotions?

This film both answers and refuses to answer that question. It presents a story, leaving us to determine which we would prefer. The story is well-crafted, has enough twist to surprise, and an ending that satisfies without preaching.

This is one of the best films I've ever seen in this genre. Yes, it is slow, has little or no action, no blood, gore, gratuitous sex or other things on which today's society seems to thrive. In short-- this is story telling, directing, acting and movie-making at its finest for those minds who are more interested in humanity than car chases.

Highly recommended.

We shan't be fooled - original ideas, concepts and scripts come by very rarely these days. Over the years I've come to accept that we shall not blatantly blame the creative team for the lack of some originality whether it is on similar premise, plot points, slight clichés, or visual styles. But when the final product is just a lazy mash up all the above, ripped off of arguably better previous films, as well as famed English literature at its most obvious, is just harder to swallow. If you ever watched Kurt Wimmer's Equilibrium and Michael Bay's the Island you have most certainly watched Doremus' Equals.

Pretentiously disguising the outright obvious rehash of ideas of a dystopian society where the inhabitants are deprived of different forms of freedom for the sake of a Utopian perfect society, with slower pacing, contemplating set up shots and heartfelt-advertising- like cinematography, we are left with a most forgetful film that never once introduces a single differentiating or provocative element.

I had expectations for this film, which were all exceeded. I expected the film to be somewhat even kilter from start to finish-- a character development story. What it is is a slow burning, impactive, stressful, hopeful story that will change the way you think about life and the world. Drake Doremus captures the essence of this seemingly peaceful Utopian world, but it is the connection between his two leads that bring this compelling story to life. I feel that people who don't like the film probably simply don't get it. It is deep, and it stays with you long after viewing. Of the films I saw at TIFF this year, this one is the only one I can't get out of my head. In fact, I liked it so well that I saw it at the second screening as well.