I have not read the Richard Matheson novel or seen the previous film versions (THE LAST MAN ON EARTH or OMEGA MAN) of this story, therefore I cannot compare Francis Lawrence's new version with any of the other forms. Adapted by Mark Protosevich and Akiva Goldsman, this Will Smith vehicle is a refreshing genre film in a year of disappointing blockbusters. Filmed with patience and attention to character, this sci-fi horror tale has emotional resonance, as well as thrills.
Robert Neville (Will Smith, I, ROBOT) is a military scientist who seems to be the last man in New York City, or possibly Earth, after a genetically altered virus turns humans into vampire-like night dwellers. He hunts rogue wildlife around the empty streets of NYC by day and barricades himself in his house once the sun sets. His only friend is his dog Sam, who was given to him by his young daughter on the day the city was quarantined. He continues his research to develop a cure, while he sets up mannequins at the video store so he can try to hold onto a bit of the world he once knew. However, the isolation has begun to make him crack, and his paranoia will affect his actions along the way.
Smith isn't the world's biggest movie star for no good reason. He often stars in quality, broad audience pictures, giving them a charm that makes the audience like his character instantly. So when he begins to act a bit crazy, we truly worry, because we care. For director Lawrence, he couldn't have been given a better star.
Lawrence showed promise in the flawed CONSTANTINE and delivers in a superior follow up, proving he can succeed when given good material to work from. In addition to hitting the right emotional notes, what really impressed me was his desire to craft real scares. He takes his time and doesn't rush through the horror moments. The sequence when Sam darts into a pitch black building after a deer and Robert must follow her into the unknown is the most frightening moment in any film this year. It works so well because we care about Robert and Sam before they enter the building, and Lawrence makes us fear what we don't see.
I AM LEGEND doesn't blaze new trails in sci-fi or horror, but it reminds us how entertaining a well-crafted genre picture can be. It puts its characters first and crafts suspense instead of cheap scares. Playing like an extended version of an episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, I AM LEGEND doesn't surprise us with new twists and turns, but re-tells to us a classic tale with good performances and first-rate craftsmanship.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
