The Island (2005)

Michael Bay almost made a thoughtful movie. For its first stretch, The Island is a creepy little sci-fi puzzle: a spotless compound, everybody in matching white tracksuits, a lottery nobody questions, and Ewan McGregor asking why he can’t have bacon with breakfast. Then a truck dumps a load of giant train wheels onto a freeway, and the ideas get flattened under the chase that follows. Steve Buscemi shows up as a grubby maintenance worker and gets every laugh the movie has. Scarlett Johansson gets reduced to running and looking worried. The product placement is so loud you’ll catch yourself reading logos instead of following the action. Sean Bean runs the place like he’s already rehearsing his villain speech. It cost a reported $126M and made just $35.8 million domestic. A 5.3 because the premise deserved a director who trusted it. $7,128 says you ask for bacon at breakfast tomorrow and feel like you’re rebelling against something.

What works: The opening hour builds a creepy, clever world, and Steve Buscemi brings much-needed laughs.

What doesn’t: Once the chase starts, the ideas vanish, and the endless product placement and noise drown out the characters.

Who it’s for: Action fans who want big freeway chaos, and sci-fi fans patient enough to enjoy the first hour.