Director: Wally Pfister
Cast: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Kate Mara
Plot: After being attacked by anti-technology terrorists, the world’s leading expert on artificial intelligence has his mind uploaded onto a computer. When the computer is connected the internet he amasses massive power and control that he uses to work towards a better world.
Review: We’re going to start with the summary today. This movie is too small for the ideas it has.
The basic premise is a good one, and one that opens many interesting channels for thought and discussion. Taking only a few small steps into the future we have a system to perfectly replicate a human mind in digital form. Once networked the human (in this case Will, played by Johnny Depp) has access to an unlimited amount of processing power and the full wealth of human knowledge. What does this mean for the human race? If a sentient being takes control of the world’s technology, what are the limits of what can be achieved and how does ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ becoming redefined?
It feels like Transcendence intended to address all of these issues but fell apart in the execution. There is a clear problem with the narrative timeline and pacing that puts a serious dent in the suspension of disbelief. Partway through the film, not long after the networking of Will, that he begins building his utopia underneath a small desert town. This process cuts back and forth with the FBI trying to get to the bottom of things and as a result it feels like a giant, five storey future lab complete with employees is built in the space of two days. We then jump two years ahead (during which time the fully informed FBI, USA government and capable terrorist factions apparently sit on their asses and talk about Game of Thrones) to where Will has mastered nanobot technology. In the space of scenes Will is building an army of cyborgs super-people and controlling the weather like a true super-villain.
Before we have nanobots filling the rain water, growing tentacles and growing clones the audience needs to be able to accept it within the realms of possibility. Unfortunately the movies lurches ahead too quickly and we don’t get the process and this ability coming to fruition. We need to the nanobots being created and used for small things, rebuilding a simple structure and being experimented with. Instead we go from ‘nanobots are a thing’ to ‘let’s completely repairs a severely beaten human and install mechanical parts in to them’ without the essential middle ground.
The movie also feels oddly restricted. When a sentient being takes over the internet you’d expect a national, if not global, response. The manipulation of the stock markets, the control of the media, the advances in technology and restrictions on information – all of these are worthy of note and discussion, yet the entire movie is restricted to Night Vale. The entire scope of government knowledge of action is reduced to one FBI agent and a scientist.
This is Pfister’s first time in the director chair, having already made his mark in the world of cinema by working as cinematographer for Christopher Nolan. His experience in this first shows as there are some wonderfully composed shots that it’s worth stopping and appreciating.
It’s not often that a first time directing pulls in a cast like thins, and they are all on form. Depp does well with a limited ability to his performance but Rebecca Hall carries most of the emotion. This isn’t the character piece it could be, however, and sometimes the behaviours and motivations feel as rushed as the plot.
There’s plenty of ideas here, but without the genuine human element and global perspective it’s a very restricted movie. Looks nice and has some good talking points, but a missed opportunity.
Rating: FIVE outta TEN.
