Uncanny

"This kid the next big thing? Some Asperger's cousin of yours ready to get all Good Will Hunting on coding and change the world?"

Was "Ex Machina" according to you the epitome of future technology and a demonstration of potential consequences of it, "Uncanny" is for sure a level higher. Not because of the shown interior design or the futuristic technologies, but because of the surprising denouement. Despite the austere imagery and decidedly lower budget, this film managed to captivate me pleasantly. Especially because of the interactions between the characters. Ditto as in "Ex Machina", the number of protagonists is limited, so the focus is on the dialogs. Eventually they didn't end up in a tangle of irrelevant side issues. And despite the limited display of high-end technologies, the intellectual level was boosted by a series of (for me anyway) incomprehensible, technological gibberish such as aerated titanium, convert a hemispheric image into a planar representation, chambered baths of synthetic hymotrips, proloanaprotiese that demolishes gluten, pesinium vibo receptors en proprioceptive information. I'm not an engineer. That became clear after a while, because it went over my head at certain times.

It seems that artificial intelligence and robotics are the new, sexy hype. During the last year we were bombarded with films which had this as a central theme. Besides "Ex Machina" we were also treated to "Automata", "Chappie", "Transcendence", "The Machine" and "Her". Every movie demonstrated the dangers that lie in the further development of A.I. Should we worry about these self-developing machines getting a self-consciousness? And what about certain ethical issues? How will these highly intelligent beings operate in our society? And how will these artificial individuals react and act towards humans? This latter aspect was subtly elaborated in this rather excellent, low-budget film. A complex interplay between human individuals and an artificial,eerily human-looking robot. What takes place before your eyes, is a complicated love triangle with an android whose feelings resemble those of humans. With jealousy playing a major role.

The most striking is obviously the acting performance of David Clayton Rogers as Adam, the autonomously operating robot designed by David Kressen (Mark Webber). The way he plays Adam is sublime throughout the film. He acts in such a way that you're convinced that he's truly an artificially intelligent being. That puzzled look and the astonishment about the way David and Joy respond to him. That lost look while he's scanning all possible feedbacks in his mind, after which a stream of words follow as if he's quoting from a Wikipedia page. His designer sometimes exhibits the same characteristics. So you start to wonder if he isn't an android as well. The way he formulated his response whether or not joy is pretty for example: Her hair is nice. Good facial symmetry. Delicate features. Nice fashion sense. Yes, I do. I think she's pretty.

And finally there's Joy (Lucy Griffiths), an intelligent journalist who studied robotics (but as far as I understood she didn't graduate) and someone who worked on or designed a game called "Aquaria 3". Apparently this game was so successful, it wasn't necessary for her to continue her studies. This was the only thing that bothered me. Why was she chosen to be the person to write a report about such a highly technological issue? Or was there an additional plan specially created for her? Anyway, her performance were convincing enough.

I'm sure many will say this film is as slow as a snail and there's an absence of action and excitement. But the gradual build up, brilliant dialogs and subtle interplay of the characters is necessary so that the denouement will come as a surprise. Although I had two specific outcomes in mind, it still was an intriguing film with a disturbing result. Let me end with a slightly humorous remark: I'm sure that Adam is the ultimate dream for a woman ... a sophisticated home-garden-kitchen robot with "Tarzan" -like features ... Well, I guess the vision of the future will look appetizing for some.

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The plot was intriguing in this small flick, and the acting was quite good. It took me about 30 min into the movie to start to suspect what going on, but I was not trying to figure out the movie. This was a cool little sci-fi flick. Nothing earth shattering but well done and entertaining. I am glad I watched it. I like the theme of Robots and humans. I love the show Real Humans (2012– ) "Äkta människor" from Sweden. In that show they called the Robots, Hubots- best name ever. Now it has been remade for the UK/US version, (not nearly as good as the Swedish version). Still good. Those shows take the theme of Uncanny further.

The film's title is appropriate, since that is the feeling you are getting from the movie. Somehow, something is wrong with it, but you can't put your finger on it. The twist at the end was pretty predictable as well, but somehow they botched it up with the very last scenes. If they change the ending - not in its idea, but its handling - the movie gains an instant extra rating point.

However the biggest harm that anything can do to this film is that it was released soon after Ex Machina when they are approaching similar subjects. It is not the same thing, but close enough, and clearly not as good. I have to think, would I have liked the film in 2014, let's say? And the answer is probably yes. Change the ending scenes, make the pace a little more alert, maybe remove some of the slow scenes or some of the bad ones (because there are some that are just stupid) and you get an instant winner.

Bottom line: interesting concept, not bad yet mediocre implementation, badly written ending scenes. Uncannily close to a good movie.

P.S. Why do movies try to seem smart with chess analogies, and then really botch them completely? Even the weakest chess player in the world would instantly see that the people doing the scenes had no idea how the game is played.

'UNCANNY': Four Stars (Out of Five)

Indie sci-fi flick, about a reporter doing a story on the most advanced artificial intelligence unit the world has ever seen; and the scientist who created it. A bizarre relationship develops between all three. The film stars Mark Webber, Lucy Griffiths, David Clayton Rogers and Rainn Wilson. It was directed by Matthew Leutwyler (who also directed such indie sci-fi and horror flicks as 'DEAD & BREAKFAST' and 'UNEARTHED') and it was written by Shahin Chandrasoma. The movie is interesting, and well made, especially for such a (seemingly) low budget production.

David Kressen (Webber) was an MIT graduate, at the age of 19. He was hired by billionaire Simon Castle (Wilson), upon graduation, and never seen or heard from again. Joy Andrews (Griffiths) is a technology reporter, who was just given a week's worth of time to interview David, and his most advanced creation; an artificial intelligence named Adam (Rogers). Adam is so lifelike, that Joy mistakes him for a human- being, upon introduction. As the week goes by, Joy develops feelings for David; while Adam also appears to develop feelings for Joy. The A.I. becomes very unpredictable, and frightening, because of it.

When I first started watching this movie, I had severe doubts that I would like it; because it seems extremely low-budget, and amateurishly made (at first glance). I was happy to find out I was wrong (by the end of the film). There's not a lot of action, or flashy visuals, but it is a well written and decently acted movie. I was intrigued, and involved in what was going on, all the way to the very end. It kind of reminds me (a little) of 'EX MACHINA', from earlier this year; just on a much smaller (and lower budget) scale.

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There is a plausible explanation for everything but let us not forget that in Sci-fi, one has to agree that this is true. You see in the world of science fiction, we crossover into another dimension which Rod Serling explains so well as a "world of sight and sound of things and ideas" but no longer in this zone but the another called Twilight. Here in this movie, we enter into the plot with full senses watching and reading the scenes and enjoying the movie as it unfolds. During this time, the viewers imagination is activated and captured. This movie makes you think and wonder and for me that's good sci-fi. The acting and story premises all handled well. Enjoy a nice snack with a tasty drink while watching. Make it through the end credits too as there is another scene wanting to add to your already viewing pleasures. If you want your head to hurt some, just read some of the theories and sharings by others online Uncanny? NO just decent sci-fi