“I Am Legend” (Warner Brothers)
Legend of the Lost
Will Smith stars in the new film “I Am Legend” and plays possibly the last man on earth. Few actors could almost singularly carry a film and keep the audiences’ interest throughout. Smith however is that talented and that charismatic. He keeps it fresh and invigorating in every way possible. Still the bleakness of the story and the introduction of some ghoulish zombies pulls the film down and makes it only a little better than average.
The film takes place in 2012 and is located in New York City. There Robert Neville (Smith) works on a cure for the virus that has killed millions and turned the remaining population into a horde of man-eating zombies. His is a desolate life in which he only has the companionship of his trusty dog Sam.
Before the virus killed everyone Neville was happily married with a young daughter. Now he has only memories of that life. He has made an announcement of his survival that plays on the radio. He hopes maybe someday someone will hear it and come forward. But in his heart he thinks he virtually is the last man on earth.
The bleak desolation of New York City is amazingly presented. Seeing familiar landmarks situated in a place where no one lives is a stark visualization of a world gone mad. Special effects and computer animation are so advanced that the silent world that is the land of “I Am Legend” becomes horrifyingly real.
Smith is absolutely believable as Neville. He has to let his emotions flow freely and in a variety of ways, and in each and every scene he is truly a man alone. Salli Richardson appears briefly as his wife and she is so emotional and so beautiful that she makes an impact. Willow Smith (Will’s real life daughter) captures your heart as Neville’s daughter Marley.
The film is rated PG-13 for violence.
One missing element in the film is the reason that Neville is not infected. It is just stated that he was immune but the film never shows or tells why or how. You also never understand why Neville doesn’t try to leave New York City and hunt out others who might have survived. He keeps referring to New York City as “ground zero” but that doesn’t say why he doesn’t leave.
There is a bleakness and fatality to “I Am Legend” that keeps it from rising to the level of entertainment it should. And when those zombies start swarming about it is a step down on the believability level.
I scored “I Am Legend” a remaining 6 out of 10.
