Transcendence (2014)
Certified: 12A
Duration: 119 minutes
Directed by: Wally Pfister
Starring: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Morgan Freeman, Paul Bettany, Kate Mara, Cillian Murphy, Cole Hauser, Clifton Collins, Jr, Cory Hardrict
KRS release
Will Caster (Johnny Depp), along with his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall), is at the top of the field in artificial intelligence. He believes that a computer can be used to house a person’s consciousness and thus create an aware and sentient artificial being. His friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany) helps him out in this area.
While many are enthusiastic about this line of work, the group Rift (Revolutionary Independence form Technology) do not agree with it and are very violent in their response.
Led by Bree (Kate Mara), they attack several scientists who are studying this area, including Will who is shot by a radiation-poisoned bullet that will lead to his death.
They also attack another of Will’s friends, Joseph Tagger (Morgan Freeman), whose team works with the government. The FBI is brought in and Donald Buchanan (Cillian Murphy) is soon with his back against the wall.
Will convinces his wife and Max to transfer his consciousness into a computer and when this succeeds and he gets access to the internet, he becomes sentient and ‘alive’ through various networks.
Rift is aware of this and targets Bree. Thus Will gets his wife into the desert and, using nanotechnology, sets out to build his own city, through local contractor Martin (Clifton Collins Jr). Technology gives him god-like powers.
Meanwhile, Bree starts doubting that it is Will inside the computer and so does Max. The latter is kidnapped by Rift but soon becomes their ally. Together with Joseph and the FBI, he starts to make plans to stop Will’s increase, not just in sentience, but even more so in power.
Having caught Transcendence while in Italy and watched it in a nearly packed cinema, I was enthused with all the discussion the film aroused.
I ended up appreciating this movie more for its ideas and also for daring to come up with new ideas that do not necessarily stick to the usual Hollywood templates.
It seems as though the movie was directed by Christopher Nolan and while cinematographer Wally Pfister here makes his directorial debut, he does not try to be like Nolan.
Transcendence presents a scenario that questions where humans are heading, to what extremes mankind is taking technology and how man and machine are interrelating with each other.
Depp once again looks quizzical and, at times, vague. His Will Caster has Einstein looks, hairstyle and all, which could gain him both groupies and science fans.
However, the acting turnout I really liked is that of Hall as his wife Evelyn. On the other hand, Murphy is given a stock character to deliver as the head of the FBI goons.
This film hooked me as the story progressed. Despite having various concepts, it does not play down the science aspect, especially in the way it makes use of nanotechnology and its questions about artificial intelligence and humanity.
Overall, Transcendence delivers a delightful mix of fresh ideas and Hollywood sensibilities, showing that science fiction is much more than explosions and alien space ships.