I think if any actor is going to carry a film single-handedly, then there’s probably not a better man for the job than Will Smith. “I Am Legend” seems like an appropriate title for what he is supposed to do, which in essence is to bring to life the quintessential story of one man against the world.
At least, that’s the task for the story’s hero in Richard Matheson’s timeless science fiction novel of the same title, written in 1954 and adapted several times already into films, from Vincent Price’s turn in “The Last Man on Earth” to Charlton Heston’s “The Omega Man.”
Matheson envisioned a post-apocalyptic world in which one man is surviving cut off and alone in a modern urban environment, where life is harsh because of the physical, emotional and spiritual lengths to which he must go in order to keep living, in the face of constant threat from horrible vampire predator creatures.
In the near future, Will Smith’s Robert Neville is a military virologist based in Manhattan. The end of civilization arrives in the form of the cure for cancer, but the virus used to combat this deadly disease mutates into a plague that wipes out mankind. Neville is spearheading the government’s attempt to find a vaccine to fight the pandemic. But in spite of their efforts, the virus went airborne and New York City is subsequently locked down with only the uninfected allowed to evacuate.
Committed to his work, Neville remains behind in the city as he continues his mission. Fortunately, he has an immune system that protects him from this deadly virus. Unfortunately, he’s completely alone as a human being in the deserted streets of Manhattan, except for the companionship of his beloved dog, Sam. Regrettably, some of the remaining citizens who didn’t succumb to the virus have instead had their ravaged metabolism transform them into creatures that dwell in the darkness of the city’s vast underground, emerging only at night to forage for new victims.
By day, Neville and Sam race around the deserted streets in a Shelby Mustang or a fortified SUV, mainly in search of life forms, canned goods and other supplies. Usually, there’s a stop at the local video store to pick up and return DVDs.
The imagery of an abandoned New York City is visually stunning. The streets are filled with weeds and forsaken vehicles. The desolate city is very realistic, including billboards for known Broadway shows. Being very familiar with Manhattan, I can tell you they have captured Times Square and other areas with perfect detail. It’s all very eerie and weird, but visually impressive.
By night, Neville retreats to his townhouse in Washington Square, which is heavily fortified to keep out the bad people. It’s a routine that is becoming an ordeal, especially after three years of isolation. For Neville, it’s all he can do to keep his sanity, which explains a daily regimen of exercise and broadcasting radio messages in search of fellow survivors. He also plays a dangerous game of trying to trap zombie creatures in order to perform his medical experiments to reserve the effects of the virus.
In the final chapter of his ongoing nightmare (he has dream and flashbacks to the family he lost), Neville finally connects with a young woman (Alice Braga) and a child, both of whom somehow follow his radio messages all the way from Maryland. Suddenly, there’s hope that remnants of civilization are out there somewhere beyond the city limits.
On the other hand, the zombies become even more aggressive and destructive, launching a full-scale assault on Neville’s abode. Very soon, the scene is uglier than New York was during the dreadful 1970s, when crime waves were relentless and the city was in the grip of despair.
“I Am Legend” is visually stunning for its stark vision of a blighted metropolis. It’s suitably spooky and eerie for the way in which it isolates Will Smith’s character in the classic urban jungle, creating chilling scenes for his showdowns with the vampire/zombie creatures.
The satisfaction of the film’s ending may be debatable, but Will Smith performs his extended solo turn with a nice measure of depth, compassion, fear and anger.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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