THX-1138 (1971)

THX-1138 (1971) – In a dystopian future, humanity is living underground in an enormous city.  Peace is kept through thousands of android police officers, and conformity is kept through drugging the populace.  When THX-1138 (Duvall) works his way off his medication, he attempts to flee the control of his society with his roommate/companion.

Directed by George Lucas                                    Starring Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasance

This is Lucas’s breakout movie.  The next two for him would cement him as a star, “American Grafitti”, and “Star Wars, Episode IV”.  Based on a film he made as a student , Lucas got his mentor, Francis Coppola, to back him.  Released by Warner Brothers, the movie was not a hit in the theaters but quickly developed a cult following.

The movie has a spare, almost antiseptic look to it.  The future imagined here is one that is about order, order at the cost of any individuality.  Clothing is shapeless, everyone’s head is shaven.  When THX-1138’s companion dies, her identifier (LUH-3417) is simply re-assigned to a new baby.  The feeling of the oppressive nature of this society is passed along to the audience.  Authority is anonymous and their apparent concern for the well-being of individuals is insincere.

Lucas lets you absorb the “thinking” part of the script, without feeling the need to explain everything to the audience.  Much like the movie’s protagonist, you’re going to have to figure it all out for yourself.  At the same time, He includes enough action to keep the movie from putting you to sleep.

Duvall has an interesting challenge here.  His character is one of only a handful that emotes in any fashion.  All of the action of the story revolves around him.  He balances all of the pieces of the story masterfully.

The end of the movie is interesting because it is simultaneously a Hollywood and a non-Hollywood ending.

As I watched this movie, and afterward, as I put together this review, “Blade Runner” kept popping into my head.  In some ways, these are mirror images of each other.  One spare and one complex,  one where androids are the source of order and the other where they threaten order.  Both are tales of grim futures where the individual is devalued.  I’m going to keep thinking about these as bookends somehow, cinematically.

In the meantime, science fiction fans should certainly see this.  Most other movie fans as well.

What I Liked About It – Loved the visual aspects of it all.  This movie is simply interesting to look at.

What You Will Like About It – It actually has a decent balance of thinking vs action.  There’s even a car chase.

Rating – **** Reccomended