Transcendence

Transcendence is timely and prescient, a thoughtful meditation on the dangers of technology and the megalomania of humanity. With talk of artificial intelligence, neuroengineering and regenerative cell mutations, clearly the filmmakers did their research in crafting a feasible sci-fi thriller. They’re also a bunch of fools to intentionally give away the ending in the opening moments, then still try to have dramatic tension leading back to the ending we already know.

It will come as no surprise that Johnny Depp’s character is disheveled, savvy, a mumbler and never clean cut. Depp hasn’t played a “normal” guy since, well, ever, and there’s no need to start now. His Will is a world-renowned scientist on the verge of a breakthrough in artificial intelligence. Will’s wife/fellow scientist Evelyn (Rebecca Hall), colleague Max (Paul Bettany) and former professor (Morgan Freeman) all support his efforts to create a computer that has emotions and can evolve.

The problem is, the computer will lack empathy. Protesters led by one of Max’s former students (Kate Mara) recognize the dangers this breakthrough poses and vow to sabotage Will’s work. To wit, they attack and destroy research at artificial intelligence labs throughout the country, and go so far as to shoot Will. He survives the gunshot, but the bullet gives him radiation poisoning and mere weeks to live.

Desperate, Evelyn uses Will’s research – which successfully duplicated a monkey’s brain inside a computer – and does the same for Will, in effect hard-wiring his mind into the Internet and various online security systems. With his mind feeling fresh and new with absolute power long after his body dies, Will proceeds to try to heal the world – his way.

The moral/ethical dilemmas are fascinating to explore: What would happen if one man/mind had control over all social infrastructures? At what point does Will cease to exist as the computer takes over? Is it possible to limit a device that was created to continuously evolve and think on its own? All salient questions worth considering, even if writer Jack Paglen’s script doesn’t offer clear answers.

It also doesn’t help that Wally Pfister, a respected cinematographer (he won a cinematography Oscar for his work on Inception and also worked with Christopher Nolan on the Dark Knight trilogy) making his feature-film directing debut, allows the story to devolve into pure sci-fi fantasy in its second half. When Cyber Will starts curing blindness and the physically impaired, and is able to control minds and voices, you know the filmmakers have stretched the premise too thin. It would’ve been more interesting to see Compu-Will deal with his newfound duality head on, i.e. have Will’s humanity internally fight with the artificial intelligence he created to see which can exert more control and influence. Constantly fighting external forces becomes a predictable yawn after a while, especially when we know the ending.

Transcendence, at least in part, takes its inspiration from the work of futurist Ray Kurzweil, whose hypothetical theory of singularity looks to a time when machine thought outpaces human thought. As a whole Transcendence is a thought-provoking and occasionally plausible look at what futuristic dystopian drama has warned of for decades. With the blitzkrieg of mindless summer action chaos on the horizon, this could serve as a sobering reminder of the potential dangers technology presents. Or, judging by the screechy and annoying women seated behind me, it could be another “OMG Johnny Depp is sooo hot!” movie. Either way, it’s not that good.

Transcendence (2 ½) Directed by Wally Pfister • Starring Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Morgan Freeman • Rated PG-13 • 119 min. • At Century Cinemas Del Monte, Maya Cinemas, Lighthouse Cinemas, Northridge Cinemas, Cannery Row XD.