As
I often say, I don’t like categorizing films
according to genre. It’s an oversimplified way of describing a film and it
tends to undermine any movie that doesn’t have a clear cut category into which
it fits. There isn’t a lot of genre blending when Sci-Fi is involved, but
Steven Spielberg’s A.I. Artificial
Intelligence (2001) is an unusual blend of Sci-Fi and drama. I think that’s
why some people were put off by it. Generally we go to a Sci-Fi movie to see
explosions, action, aliens, and special effects. A.I. does have some amazing special effects, but it’s a
character-driven drama first and foremost.
In the future, the
human race reaches the point of creating realistic robots (called mechas). One
of the mecha-producing companies builds David (Haley Joel Osment), the first
child mecha and the first to have real feelings; particularly a never-ending
love for his human “mother,” Monica (Frances O'Connor). David was meant to be a
substitute son while her real son is in cryo-stasis with an incurable disease.
David lives happily with Monica and her husband, until their real son returns
home after a cure is discovered. Rivalry arises between the two boys and they
compete for Monica’s affection. Eventually Monica decides to return David to
his manufacturer to be decommissioned to prevent any further problems. But
Monica has become so attached to David that she sends him out on his own to
prevent his destruction. Child-like David decides that if he can find the Blue
Fairy from Pinocchio (a story Monica once told him) that he can become a real
boy and win back Monica’s love. With the help of Gigolo Joe (Jude Law), a male
prostitute mecha on the run after being framed for murder, David sets out on a
journey to earn Monica’s love again.
A.I.
was originally the concept of Stanley Kubrick who later
turned it over to Steven Spielberg. After Kubrick passed away, Spielberg
finished the project as a tribute to his deceased friend and colleague. Kubrick
is known for making bleak movies while Spielberg is known for making happier
movies; both writing styles are manifest in A.I.,
creating some interesting thematic contrasts. We see cold, creepy mechas who
look and act similar to humans, but can’t replicate genuine human behavior;
compared to genuine love between family members. There is innocent child-like
nature and domestic bliss, which differs from the gritty harshness of the world
outside where mechas are treated with hate and mistrust by some. These
contrasting elements make for an interesting and diverse setting. I think the
overall theme of A.I. is that humans
are unique, diverse, special, and impossible to replace.
On the one hand, David is remarkably adorable and
endearing, but on the other hand there’s something disquieting about him as
well. This is a different sort of character that Osment plays from his famed
role in The Sixth Sense (1999), and
he plays the part brilliantly. One of the subtle things that makes this
character so eerie is you never see him blink; this was an aesthetic suggestion
that young Osment made to Spielberg. You want to empathize with the lovable
David, but we are constantly reminded that he is not real. We (and David’s
“mother”) are projecting emotions onto a machine that is only able to simulate
emotion, but not perfectly. In the end, I’m still not sure if this artificial
being is someone I should relate to or feel sympathy for, almost like an old
computer I don’t need any more. I liked the computer, but the machine and I
didn’t have an emotional bond. Nevertheless, I tear up at the end A.I. every time I see it.
What is your favorite robot movie? It could have good robots or bad robots. Comment below and let me know!
