Movie Review - Transcendence

Transcendence **½ (PG-13) A few months ago, Scarlett Johansson starred as the voice of a self-aware artificial intelligence entity who became Joaquin Phoenix’s "soulmate" in Her. Now Johnny Depp morphs into a computerized version of himself opposite Rebecca Hall, who looks a lot like Johansson (even co-starring with her in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona). Both sci-fi offerings try to dramatize the upside potential and downside perils of this seemingly inevitable tide in the evolution of technology. The former focused mainly on the intimate, individual level; this one aims for the macrocosm of global consequences of machines that think and feel, in addition to their current range of functions.

Depp plays an admirably humble, humane genius, whose marriage to colleague Hall is the envy of all who know them. When he’s fatally wounded by radicals who fear the likely direction of their A.I. research, Hall and their closest friend (Paul Bettany) try to download his entire personality into an A.I. program, rather than lose the man they both cherish...as well as his scientific abilities. Yet the best of intentions and brightest of minds can’t foresee all the possible problems they might create.

Without disclosing too much plot, suffice it to say the transfer succeeds on some levels, but at substantial cost. The cyberversion of Depp amasses and collates data to great advantage - advances that could save lives and the planet. But his actions are less benevolent than he/it believes. The resulting dichotomy dangles interesting questions about our future - primarily whether we really understand what will be done with the capabilities we’re creating. Is our intellect making us merely kids with toys that are too dangerous for our understanding? Those with religious slants may find issues about the role of God and definition of life once we program machines that think and feel on their own.

The screenplay makes the premise intriguing for most of its running time, though much of the last 30-40 minutes drifts from the intellectual to the visceral, showing clashes that are more satisfying visually than thematically. Even with its flaws, the film provides a cautionary tale with food for thought. For proof of the production’s gravitas, Morgan Freeman is featured as one of their fellow scientists - always a good sign. (4/18/14)