 | A.I. Artificial Intelligence Starring: Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, William Hurt, Frances O'Connor |
Prior to viewing "A.I.", I was led to believe that this new Spielberg film would be the subject of great controversy and discussion in film schools and by cinephiles for years to come. I had heard that Steven Spielberg had ventured into new territory and that the dark and disturbing "A.I." would make film history. Obviously, DreamWorks' Spin Machine has done an effective job. For reasons I cannot imagine, a number of film critics have given serious attention to this stinker. Many have praised the film as a cinematic landmark. Audiences, however, have not warmed to this movie, as the U.S. box office receipts have been more than disappointing. I was prepared to be awed. After the first hour, I began to hear moans from the audience. Soon, the film DID become DARK as I drifted into a deep sleep. I was quickly awakened by a "I don't believe this shit!" from the person sitting next to me. Within minutes I was DISTURBED by the fact that I had paid money to see this impersonation of a film! A sigh of relief came over the audience when the film was ending. Alas! It did not. We had to suffer through another 30 minutes. When the credits rolled, most ran out of the theatre, yet two remaining members of the audience actually clapped. Perhaps they were clapping because this rip-off of Pinocchio was finally over! Maybe they were robots planted by DreamWorks? I dashed to my office to write a very angry, negative review of this film. Within minutes, I had completed a three-page essay. The next day I realised that I was playing into DreamWorks hands. Indeed, reviews of this film have been mixed. The more controversy the more folks will be tempted to see this drek. I have made the decision to dismiss "A.I." quickly. This story of a young robot, David (Haley Joel Osment), given the capacity to love is seriously flawed from beginning to end. I understand that director Stanley Kubrick worked on this project, in secrecy, for 15 years before turning it over to Steven Spielberg to direct. I have no idea what Kubrick had in mind but "A.I." couldn't have been it. Spielberg clearly lost his way on this one. Spielberg envisions a grim future for humanity. Humans have lost the capacity to love. We treat our machines badly, and mankind will be responsible for our own undoing. Eventually, aliens will inherit the earth. I'm not even sure that the love robot, David, is not, in reality, a cyborg designed by Spielberg to look like Haley Joel Osment. Osment can act yet David seems to lack thespian abilities and, come to think of it, he's downright creepy. Perhaps the only point that "A.I." proves is that Spielberg is no robot. He can fall flat on his face like any other human being! |