Robots generally have a bad reputation when it comes to cinema. At best they’ll be intelligent killing-machines that ultimately decide humanity’s reign has run its course, and at worst they’ll just be an army of mindless drones whose sole purpose is to get mowed down by the hero. Sure, there’s the rare exception such as i,Robot where Sonny was as much the hero as anyone, but even then the V.I.K.I. AI ends up being the villain so we’re back at a zero sum game. Today on Yesflix/Noflix I’ll be looking at two very different movies that highlight how not everything is doom and gloom in the world of artificial intelligence.
Yesflix – Bicentennial Man
Bicentennial Man was likely the first sentimental example that most of us had for robots integrating with future human life. Robin Williams plays the role of Andrew, a robot butler purchased by the Martin family to carry out their daily chores. At first, the family treats him as little more than an appliance, although the patriarch (Sam Neill), known to Andrew as ‘Sir’, does recognise some semblance of emotion and thought beyond the typical robot model. From here, the story progresses with the Martin family as they grow more attached to Andrew; none more so than the youngest daughter, ‘Little Miss’ (Hallie Kate Eisenberg).
As the family makes Andrew a larger part of their lives, so too does Andrew wish for the ability to communicate more openly and effectively with them, often spouting phrases such as “One has thoughts and feelings that presently do not show” at times when he is unable to react as he wishes. This search for freedom of expression leads him through a series of surgeries that eventually lead to him losing his mechanical shell for one that appears much more human. As the family grows older and has less need of him, he seeks further physical freedom to live on his own (potentially never-ending) life.
The journey with Andrew through the lives of multiple generations of the Martin family is meticulously detailed and, while it is an emotional trip, it is not without humour, delivered in a way only Robin William‘s could. Both in terms of visual humour and dialouge, his performance as Andrew is on point throughout the story and the change in his mannerisms as he transitions from robot to something more human helps to sell the film’s message.
While not a perfect movie, with some core themes sometimes buried under sugary sentiment, Bicentennial Man is still an excellent example of the challenges that may one day be faced should robots ever begin to gain sapience.
Fans of Robot & Frank or Channel 4’s Humans will LOVE this!
Noflix – The Machine
If you saw Ex Machina and thought to yourself, ‘That would have been much improved by the addition of lots of guns’, then by all means disregard everything else I have said or am about to say and go watch The Machine. It might just be the perfect movie for you.
In all honesty, The Machine isn’t a terrible movie. What it is, however, is supremely disappointing. If you’ve seen Ex Machina then the concept will be familiar to you: a secluded scientist is attempting to build a better AI and enlists the help of another to perfect the program. The AI in both movies even share the name ‘Ava’, although The Machine was produced much earlier than Ex Machina so it isn’t just a rip-off.
A large part of why the movie was so disappointing is that it actually gets off to an excellent start. Toby Stephens does an excellent job of portraying the scientist, Vincent McCarthy, hoping to use AI as a means to repair damage done to soldiers, both mental and physical. Meanwhile Caity Lotz manages a great portrayal of the robot adjusting to the world. That’s not a dig at her giving a wooden performance either; she really nailed the part with subtle changes over time in her body movements and facial expressions as Ava’s programming is adapted. Truthfully, for a good hour or so the film is a fantastic experience.
Then the evil military get involved and everything goes to pot. All the intense scenes between Vincent and Ava are lost, replaced with dark corridors, strobe lights and popping squibs while faceless military agents search the facility for the pair. The Machine almost manages to pick itself back up at the end, but I have to wonder if that ending would justify sitting through the near hour of mindlessness preceding it.
Fans of Ex Machina will (probably) HATE this!
Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments or even suggest some of your own best and worst AI movies!
