-->DIRECTOR: Luc Besson LEAD CAST: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Min-sik Choi SCREENWRITER: Luc Besson PRODUCER: Mar Shmuger, Virginie Silla MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Eric Serra GENRE: Action, Sci-Fi CINEMATOGRAPHER: Thierry Arbogast LOCATION: Taiwan and France DISTRIBUTOR: Columbia Pictures RUNNING TIME: 89 minutes
Technical Assessment: 3.5; Moral Assessment: 2.5; CINEMA rating: V 14
Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) is an
American taking further studies in Taiwan. There he meets Richard and they become steady after nights of hanging
out and drinking sprees in bars. After barely a week, she is tricked by Richard to deliver a mysterious briefcase to a
certain Mr. Jung (Chao Min Sik). It eventually turns out that the briefcase
contains a prohibited new synthetic designer drug. Trapped, Lucy is forced to
become a drug mule. But then, something happens in the process - the drug
bursts into her stomach and releases into her system, activating even the most
inactive part of her brain. Thus, it gives Lucy access to increase the amount
of her neural capacity – more than an average human being can . Lucy gains
formidable, close to supernatural abilities that is more than enough to get
back and retaliate to the group of Mr. Jung. However, her ability goes with
consequences she may not be able to handle.
The film takes off with the
premise that an average human person uses only about 10% of his brain capacity – what if a person would
be able to use more? What if a person is able to use 100%? Although the premise
seems preposterous with no real logical and scientific basis to boot, the
audience is made to believe it is so. Lucy is a triumph in visual storytelling
– having successfully told both in gripping narrative and arresting visuals
such an abstract idea. Johansson is able to pull through the physical and
emotional demands of her character. Although lacking in character back story,
Lucy still earned audience’s sympathy and it could be attributed to Johansson’s
nuances. The movie’s direction is fluid and the editing is superb. Lucy is one
rare feat in filmmaking where philosophy and movie arts meet. The audience is
made to think, feel, and remain glued at their seats as they journey with
Lucy’s 100% use of her brain capacity.
Lucy is set at the backdrop of
the illegal drugs industry. The said world is portrayed as dark and evil – and
true to its form, illegal drug is the ultimate evil in society – it destroys,
corrupts and causes most of society’s ills. It is but coincidental that in the
same evil world, Lucy is able to gain incredible ability that is not
necessarily evil and in fact, Lucy used the said ability to fight the evil. But
then again, there goes the moral question of breaking human laws and taking
justice in one’s own hands, especially in situations, as in Lucy’s, when humans
are empowered with superhuman abilities to the point of killing the enemies if
necessary. Although it is hard to pass on moral judgments to Lucy’s actions
since she is portraying a hypothetical superhuman situation, and she seems
unable to control her actions, it is perhaps better to ponder on the man’s
imperfect nature. By God’s design, humans are made to be imperfect and for
always, perfection is one of human’s ultimate goal but is achieved in his
lifetime. In Lucy, it is said that when humans are able to use 100% of his or
her cerebral capacity, the next stage would be self-destruction since he or she
has already achieved his or her full potential. Absurd as it is, the message
could simply be that humans are made imperfect so as to be dependent on God,
and journey with God towards perfection. For even if a human reaches his or her
full potential, he or she can never be God. More so, in case it happens, for as
long as one acknowledges that there is One all powerful, omnipresent, ultimate
God, he or she can never go wrong. Lucy has made the ultimate sacrifice in the
end, reminiscent that of God’s sacrifice once before – perhaps it is the real
peak of human’s fullest potential, when one could sacrifice his or her own life
for the greater good. But then, all of which are subject to debate and
reflection, and still, Lucy has some adult and violent themes and visuals that
may be suitable only to audiences 14 and above.
