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Hancock

I must confess that after watching Hancock for the first time, I felt cheated out of what I thought would have been a better movie. But then I decided to view it again, with the knowledge of the twist that many critics have deemed a complete “cheat,” and found a whole new appreciation for the film. Hancock stars Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize Theron. Immediately Hancock’s (Smith) character (or lack there of) is revealed to the audience as an alcoholic who is miserable with his life. He is reckless, despised by the people of Los Angeles, immature, and wallows in self-pity, until he saves Ray’s (Bateman) life, who just so happens to be a public relations expert and works to improve Hancock’s public image.

While some may argue that the script was contrived, Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize Theron (who plays Ray’s wife, Mary) are just outstanding in the film. Smith, in particular, is completely captivating as a character study. Directed by Peter Berg (The Kingdom) and produced by Michael Mann (who also produced The Kingdom), Hancock tells an amazing story of a man who is lonely, who is both blessed and cursed by his superpowers, his downward spiral into the depths of alcoholism to cope with his feelings, and of course, his redemption, self-sacrifice, and acceptance of his purpose in this world.

It is difficult to miss the heavy symbolism of eagles in the film, as they symbolize Hancock’s unique gift and role in the world. Going into the plot in more detail would risk me divulging the twist in the film that involves Charlize Theron (we had to know that she is too big of an actress to just be Bateman’s wife!), but I can say that some people will not like it and will feel cheated. When I viewed the film again, I had a whole new appreciation for the character of Hancock, because not only are his actions consistent throughout the film, they are undeniably human. Upon further analysis of Theron’s role, I found her actions and behaviors to be consistent with the twist at all times throughout the script. While the story entails elements of the supernatural, it is tight, and truly mirrors the human condition – even if there are superhuman elements to the film.

The special effects were seamless and the camera angles and shaky cam gave an organic feel to the film. But what else could the audience expect? With Peter Berg and Michael Mann, the same team who gave us The Kingdom, I expected exceptional camera work. But I found this creation of Hancock to be unexpected. It is a complex embroidery of comedy, the supernatural, and the human condition. Yes, one must suspend their disbelief at times in the film, but I found that Hancock authentically catalogued the personal growth of a superhero who had fallen, only to soar once again and find his meaning and purpose in the world.

Written by: Heather Tetreault

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