Perhaps Francis Lawrence, director of “I Am Legend,” should pay a visit to his friendly neighborhood psychiatrist — it’s clear he’s a conflicted soul. Why else would he create a piece like “I Am Legend,” a film that suffers from a clear case of Split Personality Disorder? The movie begins as a strongly acted, touching meditation on human loneliness and abruptly morphs into a bloody, apocalyptic showdown.
Yes, “I Am Legend” is something of a warped hybrid — it’s part “Cast Away” (the good part) and part “Resident Evil” (the disappointing part). It’s the not-quite-successful fusion of a shoot-em-up action film and a psychological drama. The two parts never quite gel to form a satisfying whole.
But don’t blame Will Smith for his film’s failings. Smith, looking leaner and meaner than ever, throws himself into his role with gusto. He’s full-throttle in every single scene, and it’s his gritty performance that almost saves “I Am Legend” from its director’s shortcomings.
The year is 2012, and Smith stars Dr. Robert Neville, an ex-military virologist and New York City’s only resident. Scratch that — as far as he knows, he’s the world’s only resident. He is, quite literally, an island, the last man able to survive fallout from a genetically engineered virus that turned humans into bloodthirsty vampires. (Silly humans — don’t they know genetically engineered viruses are for zombies?) Neville ekes out a small, quiet life of desperation in his family’s old home, which he’s made into an iron-barred bunker. His only companion is his German shepherd, Sam, his iPod (armed with an endless playlist of Bob Marley tunes) and his DVD player. He poses mannequins and talks to them.
These first 60 minutes, where Lawrence explores Neville’s hopeless plight, make for compelling, even heart-wrenching viewing. The “Big Apple,” stripped of its 8 million bustling inhabitants, is an eerie, almost nightmarish wasteland, and Neville is trapped there. He could leave, but where would he go, and why? Everywhere he goes, there he is. There’s no one else. His loneliness is palpable, and he copes in ways that are surprisingly touching.
He confides in Sam as though she’s a real human, telling her to eat her vegetables, singing to her, fretting for her safety. He talks to posed mannequins in a video store (he even ponders whether he should “chat up” one saucy brunette), and he sends out a broadcast every day at noon to reach any survivors.
Smith, with his worried eyes, underplays all of this to marvelous effect. His Neville is a man collapsing under the burden of his own guilt and pain. For much of the film Smith’s on screen alone, and he bears the weight of the entire movie well. “Happyness” aside, it may well be the best acting he’s ever done.
But the film goes more than a little sour just after the 60-minute mark, when the “Cast Away” sensibilities give way to film that’s more interested in gutting vampires than waxing poetic. To be sure, there are some nail-bitingly tense moments and a few great action sequences (hey, a Will Smith movie isn’t a Will Smith movie until someone gets a beatdown).
But the vampires are pasty, unimpressive CGI creations, and they look too fake to be frightening. These “night seekers” don’t live up to the buildup (a fate worse than M. Night Shyamalan's “Signs”).
Maybe the staffer in charge of CGI tweaks should have taken a gander at “Night of the Living Dead,” or at least paid closer attention during “28 Days.”
Perhaps the reason “I Am Legend,” based very loosely on Richard Matheson’s book, feels so disconnected is because it took so very, very long to make. The film’s been in talks for years, with a revolving door of potential lead actors and directors.
There’s little doubt “Legend” evolved from one movie into another (and possibly back again), but under Lawrence’s direction it just doesn’t flow. Ultimately, Smith is the glue that barely holds this bisected movie together. Grade: B-
