| A.I.: Artificial Intelligence |
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| Genre: | Drama |
| Year: | 2001 |
| Rating: | PG13 |
| Length: | 2 Hours 25 Minutes |
| Cast: | Steven Spielberg, Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, Frances O'Connor |
As is often the case with science fiction, Steven Spielberg's futuristic drama is concerned with simple if profound questions. In this case, Spielberg seems to ask, "What is love?" -- and follows up with an even larger issue in a world where artificial life comes closer to reality each day, "Is human love uniquely unlimited?" Whether or not the master filmmaker answers these questions to every viewer's satisfaction, there's no denying that his effort achieves heartrending poignancy. Haley Joel Osment, the young sensation of The Sixth Sense, is deeply affecting as "David," a technically sophisticated "mecha" (robot) companion programmed to look, think, and even feel like an 11-year-old boy. David's circuitry is so advanced that he actually believes he loves his adoptive mother (beautifully played by Frances O'Connor), who tries hard to reciprocate but eventually realizes that she can't. This presages a centuries-long odyssey for the indestructible David, cast out of the only home he's ever known and determined to some day secure the love he so inexplicably craves. Based on a short story by Brian Aldiss, originally developed for the screen under the auspices of Stanley Kubrick, A.I. was brought to fruition by Spielberg, whose uncharacteristically stately direction suggests Kubrick far more than it does the man who gave us Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Saving Private Ryan. Modernistic sets, gadgetry, and special effects are skillfully employed to sustain the illusion of a not-too-distant future, but the core of A.I. is pure emotion. The deeply affecting performances of Osment and O'Connor are supplemented with memorable supporting turns by Jude Law (as a robotic gigolo) and William Hurt (a visionary scientist). At various points this movie will bemuse, confuse, and perhaps even outrage you -- but it will evoke feelings so powerful that you'll want to revisit it over and over again. The DVD offers two making-of documentaries featuring interviews with Spielberg, Osment, and Law. Additionally, there are three segments devoted to specific aspects of production, including a visit to the special-effects studios of Stan Winston and George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic. Multiple trailers, storyboards, and hundreds of photographs round out this highly collectable package. Ed Hulse
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