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A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Review by Mike Furches (Mike's bio)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Screenplay by Steven Spielberg
Screen Story Ian Watson
Short story by Brian Aldiss "Supertoys Last All Summer Long."
Haley Joel Osment .... David Swinton
Jude Law .... Gigolo Joe
Frances O'Connor .... Monica Swinton
Sam Robards .... Henry Swinton
Jake Thomas .... Martin Swinton
Brendan Gleeson .... Lord Johnson-Johnson
William Hurt .... Professor Hobby
Jack Angel .... Teddy (voice)
Keith Campbell .... Road Warrior
Kelly Felix .... Butler Mecca
John Harmon .... Medic Mecca
Ben Kingsley .... Narrator
Paul Isaac Martin .... Crash Test Dummy
Miguel Pérez .... A.R.T Repairman
Produced by Bonnie Curtis (producer), Jan Harlan (executive producer), Kathleen Kennedy (producer), Walter F. Parkes (executive producer), Steven Spielberg (producer)
Original music by John Williams
Cinematography by Janusz Kaminski
Film Editing by Michael Kahn
PG-13 - for some sexual content and violent images.
I enjoy actually going to the movies and seeing and hearing the reactions of the crowds while waiting in line to get in as well as the reactions of the audience during the movie. While waiting to enter the theater I was somewhat surprised by the reaction of the audience leaving the previous screening. One of my fears about this particular movie is that audiences are expecting E.T. or other Spielberg style films that involve children. Instead, what they get is an adult fairy tale complete with moral lessons and implications. Each A.I. viewer should be aware of the important impact late director and writer Stanley Kubrick has on the film; it is he who obtained the original rights from the short story by Brian Aldiss, "Supertoys Last All Summer Long" in the 1970s. He also collaborated with Stephen Spielberg on the film and screenplay during his final years. A piece of ironic A.I. trivia is that Spielberg felt so passionate about this project that this is the first film in several years that he felt compelled to take his involvement one step further and actually write the screenplay.
Over the years Steven Spielberg has given us films that have had as much spiritual impact as any producer or director in Hollywood. Among those films include the classics Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List, Amistad and others. It has been obvious over the years of film making that Spielberg has been able to incorporate spiritual truths into many of his films. A.I. is uniquely different. There are numerous spiritual components addressed in the film and social commentary that is so typical within Stanley Kubrick films. A.I. is also a film that fortunately, Kubrick recognized needed the touch of someone like Spielberg who had shown the ability to work with children and tell stories in a non threatening, yet thought-provoking way.
Simply put, A.I. Artificial Intelligence is a contemporary translation of Pinocchio, but it is also much more and is done in such a way that will cause the audience to reflect and think about its meaning. That is of course if the audience can be prepared to address a serious subject prior to attending the film as opposed to expecting a light-hearted children's tale. I would even discourage taking young children due to some of the subject matter and the fact that very young children will have a difficult time understanding many of the components covered in the film. I do believe that children 10 and older will be able to understand and relate to the characters portrayed in A.I., especially the lead character David Sinton played to perfection by Haley Joel Osment.
There are a few other components of A.I. that should also be mentioned from a critique perspective. My daughter who is a Mass Communications Major with a focus on Film and Movies saw the film with me and felt certain that A.I. would be on the required viewing list next year. I agree that as far as film making goes this film is extraordinary and certainly is among numerous films that shows the genius of Steven Spielberg. It is remarkable that he wrote the screenplay, directed, and produced this film. While there are some weaknesses in the last 15 minutes of the film, the story is well told and has a thought provoking ending. Despite some difficulties A.I. will have the viewer thinking about the intent of the film as well as what actually happens during the ending. Stanley Kubrick would have been pleased with the final product and A.I. makes the social comment that I believe is consistent with most of Kubrick's films.
Other components of this film are also astonishing. Haley Joel Osment shows that despite his age, he is one of the best actors in Hollywood right now. One particular scene has his mother Monica, played by Frances O'Conner implanting or activating David the robot as a part of the family. Up to this point in the film, David, is a first of a kind robot who has been created with a unique ability to love. He will not be able to love until he is activated or implanted with a special code. Up until the time his mother decides to activate him, David is an obvious robot with little ability to recognize feelings or have concerns about himself or those around him. During the activation scene Spielberg uses a shot that has continual focus on David's facial expressions. Once his mother reads the activation sequence you see David's facial expressions change instantaneously. One of the unique differences between good actors and great actors is their ability to communicate to the audience without words. Haley Joel Osment, from this capacity, gives one of the most powerful performances in years. The opportunity to watch this young man work, in and of itself is worth the full price of a movie ticket to see this film. A.I. is also wonderfully cast from the voices of Chris Rock and Robert Williams to the role of William Hurt as the boy's creator.
What makes this movie even more wonderful is not just the technical components but also the issues addressed. There will be much debate about the film but I believe the film addresses numerous spiritual issues that are essential to all human beings. In the early stages of the film when scientists are discussing the new creation of the robotic boy with feelings they are told of the ability of the boy to love. One of the scientists comments that the question is not if the boy can love but can others love the boy. During this sequence there is also comment regarding God's creation of man and if man is capable of loving God. It is this initial component and discussion in the film that the rest of the story evolves.
In A.I., we the audience are confronted with the need of David to love and feel loved. While he has love for others that is not enough, he has the need to be loved in a perfect and pure way. I believe the character of David, a robot, is not just an allegory for children, but I believe an allegory for all mankind. David represents each of us and our quest to not only be able to love but to also be loved. He is on an endless journey where he maintains his faith and hope to find that love. He does this in a society that is so focused on itself that it has gone as far as to create robots to satisfy all physical needs including the sexual needs of individuals. A society that is self serving and has lost the focus of love and compassion. The human society quickly creates a means to meet its desires while at the same time seeking to destroy those same objects. At one of the entertainment events, The Flesh Fair, humans learn to understand and love a small boy, David. In the same way, individuals today fall in love with the small Christ Child, Jesus, at Christmas but often forget about His desire for us to love Him and His willingness to love us in return in a universal and everlasting way if we only accept it.
I believe A.I. also addresses our ability, or lack thereof, to love others. We are shown the consequences of not following through with our commitments in regards to love. We see this especially when the David's human father, played by Sam Robards, goes against his own advice when he tells his wife to take David back to his creators. He does this knowing that the boy robot David has developed real feelings of love towards him and the rest of his family. It is a result of his own inability to love that David goes on a life long quest to become a "real" boy and thus be able to be loved by his family. We are shown that our inability to love or to love others with limitations has consequences that we may not be aware of. While David's mother struggles with letting him go, she still does just that, she leaves him in the woods, alone with his Teddy to find his own way in life. Despite the imperfection of her love for David he still chooses to be loved by his mother.
Of course it is only the ultimate love of Christ that can bring joy into our lives. While there are components of the film within the last 20 minutes that are difficult personally, (I didn't like the aspect of aliens in the film and didn't believe they actually fit into the story line), there is still ample material that can help in starting spiritual discussions with others. Those discussions can be about how we are all looking for love and that Jesus Christ is the answer and solution to finding that love. We can all find the love that David was searching for because, we are like David, not only wanting to love others but to feel that love from others for all eternity.
While A.I. is not a perfect film it is none the less very good. On a scale of 1-10 a great 8.
Copyright 2001, Mike Furches. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
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About Mike Furches: Mike is the senior pastor of United at the Cross Community Church in Wichita, Kansas. The church, located in the inner city of Wichita has a unique ministry to former gang members, drug addicts, prostitutes and others often neglected by the church. Mike also is involved in freelance writing and speaks nationally. Check out his web page for more information: http://www.furches.org/ E-mail Mike |
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