Director Gareth Edwards gets some sci-fi redemption after his fractured experience with the much-lauded Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
In particular, how much of it did he actually direct? Despite getting the single directorial credit for that classic franchise entry.
This time round he definitely impresses in his own right, with a completely original science fiction story – which echoes elements from AI: Artificial Intelligence, Elysium, Blade Runner, Ex Machina and Children of Men to name a few – that is definitely one competent piece that Edwards deserves immense praise for.
And to top it all off, he managed to do some sensational special effects on a restricted budget that look like they cost ten times as much.
In this futuristic post-apocalyptic thriller, humans – in particular the US Government – battle artificial intelligence (AI) after they launched a nuclear attack on Los Angeles some fifteen years earlier, which killed millions.
Outlawed, pockets of resistance – harbouring the last remnants of AI – are scattered across Asia, and are being hunted so their advanced kind doesn’t cause destruction to the human race ever again.
Cue Tenet star John David Washington as hardened ex-military sergeant Joshua Taylor, who has been tasked to track down and destroy a supposed AI super weapon that could take out the NOMAD (North American Orbital Mobile Aerospace Defence) – capable of launching destructive missile attacks – that protects the planet in orbit.
But alas, Taylor has a hidden agenda, which is to try and locate his ex-wife (Gemma Chan) who was allegedly killed five years earlier and may still be alive.
And when he finds out this potential super weapon – and the elusive potential architect behind advanced AI – is actually a young robotic girl (Madeleine Yuna Voyles’ Alphie), he inadvertently must try and protect her to reach his goal of locating his former love.
This puts Alison Janney’s (I, Tonya) Colonel Howell and her squadron in direct conflict with Ken Watanabe’s (Batman Begins) Harun and his simulant New Asia soldier force – with Taylor and Alphie caught in the middle.
But while it doesn’t quite come together to provide a sci-fi masterpiece – it plods at times after it’s artistically enigmatic introduction, and there’s still a question mark as to whether Washington is leading man material – there’s much to enjoy in this world that has been affectionately crafted.
And even though this is ultimately a mish-mash of ideas that may have been done better before – there’s no doubting Edwards has created a stunning piece of cinema here.
It’s just a bit more style over substance.
ESP Rating: 3.5/5
Gavin Miller
SHOWCASE CINEMA DE LUX PETERBOROUGH, OUT NOW
Cast: John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, Allison Janney, Sturgill Simpson, Vernica Ngo & Ralph Ineson
Running Time: 2 Hrs 13 Mins
Director: Gareth Edwards
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