This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 220! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.
Hey Friends!
Let me dive right into something that somehow, by some weird fluke, had flown under my radar until recently: Steven Spielberg’s “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” from 2001. Can you believe I’d missed this gem? It’s like finding a hidden track on your favorite album years after you thought you knew every beat.
So, “A.I.” spins this heart-tugging yet slightly eerie tale about David, a highly advanced robotic boy played by Haley Joel Osment. David is the first of his kind, programmed with the ability to love. His story kicks off in a future where climate change has swallowed coastal cities (and you thought your basement flooding was bad!). In this world, robots (called “Mechas” for ‘mechanical’) are pretty much everywhere, helping out their human creators. But these aren’t your average tin cans. They’re programmed to feel emotions, including love.
David’s journey starts in the Swinton home, where he is adopted to replace a couple’s ill son. When their real son miraculously recovers, David’s life turns into quite the rollercoaster. What follows is a heartwarming and heartbreaking journey of acceptance, rejection, and the quest for belonging. He soon sets himself on a quest to become a “real boy,” hoping that this transformation will regain him the love of his human mother. It’s like Pinocchio got a futuristic reboot, you know?
Haley Joel Osment absolutely nails it, bringing a depth to David that blurs the lines between human and machine in ways that are sometimes downright unsettling. Jude Law joins in as Gigolo Joe, a charming and slick ‘love robot,’ adding a vibrant contrast to David’s innocence. Their odd partnership forms as they navigate a world that’s both fascinated and frightened by their existence. Joe’s a really cool character because he can actually feel emotions, and he’s also a bit of a playboy (given that he was programmed to….um…you know). He was kind of funny but also pretty sad, because he really just wanted to be loved and accepted. His character adds a little bit of a comedic touch to the movie, which I really liked.
One scene that absolutely sticks (you gotta see it to get the full goosebump effect) is when David meets his creator, Professor Hobby, played by William Hurt. This moment is loaded with all the existential goodies: Who am I? Why was I created? The sheer ambition of these scenes could make your head spin!
Through all its visual splendor and philosophical questions, “A.I.” delivers a narrative that’s both futuristic and deeply human. The special effects? Stellar. They paint this lush, disturbing future with strokes that only Spielberg can master. Yet, beneath all the tech and sci-fi gloss, it’s a story about love, loneliness, and the quest for identity. Hits right in the feels!
As the film progresses, David’s programmed desire to be loved makes him do some pretty wild things. I mean, he’s programmed to love, but it’s this kind of unconditional, unwavering love. I gotta say, it made me feel a little uncomfortable at times, like his love for his “mom” was kind of creepy, but it also made me wonder what love really is, you know?
That being said, “A.I.” also delves into some pretty heavy themes like loss, abandonment, and the ethical implications of creating sentient beings. It raises questions about what it truly means to be human, and whether love can exist without a soul. 🤔
So, why did it take me so long to catch this flick? Honestly, I’m kicking myself because “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” is a masterpiece that balances sharp intellect with profound sentimentality. If you haven’t seen it yet, consider this your nudge to go watch it—like, now!
Catch you on the next reel,
Roger