Transcendence (2014)

Will Caster (Johnny Depp) has been developing a self-aware AI for many years, with the help of his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall). He has relied also on the groundbreaking work of several colleagues in the field, such as personal friends Max Waters (Paul Bettany) and Joseph Tagger (Morgan Freeman), among others.

When our story begins, Will is giving a presentation to potential investors about the future of AI, and how it can advance not only the human race, but also technology in general, and indeed the wider world.

However, there is also a vigilante group who have been targeting AI researchers across the country, and even around the world. One of the members of this group - present at the event - shoots Will in the foyer after the seminar.

Will is fortunate that the bullet merely grazed him, so at first it seems like he will be okay and make a full recovery. However, the bullet was laced with polonium, so slowly but surely, his internal organs and nervous system begin to shut down, and he is told he has only a few months left to live.

Will Caster (Johnny Depp), Evelyn Caster (Rebecca Hall) and Max Waters (Paul Bettany).

As he faces the end of his life, and Evelyn faces the rest of her life alone, they come up with a 'terrible' - at least it is terrible to everyone who knows them, the two of them see no issue with it - plan; that is, to upload Will's consciousness to the computer they have been developing the AI system on, so that he can not only continue to live on - in a digital form - but AI as a concept can continue to develop.

The vigilante group, however - led by a young intern named Bree (Kate Mara), who had worked with Max in the past - continue their campaign against all advancement of AI technology.

Their crimes - they have already killed a number of researchers - are investigated by FBI Agent Buchanan (Cillian Murphy), with assistance from Joseph Tagger.

I'll leave the plot description there for now, you can experience it for yourself if you so choose.

Joseph Tagger (Morgan Freeman).

The screenplay, by Jack Paglen, is clever enough. The characters are reasonably well-defined, and there are plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing and keep you interested until the film's conclusion. That being said, a lot of the plot points are relatively standard for a film in this genre, so there aren't a lot of surprises for anyone used to films of this nature, but it is still interesting enough to keep you watching.

Mychael Danna's score likewise is relatively standard for the genre. It's not bad, in fact, it's fine for what it is, but there isn't anything too adventurous or outlandish in the score or the instrumentation. The music is suited well to the film, however, with all the major significant emotional points highlighted well by the addition of music. The film doesn't feel overscored at any point, either, which is good.

The production design, by Chris Seagers, is excellent, transporting the viewer directly into the middle of the film's world and environment. From tech servers to a post-apocalyptic world, everything has been created to suit the film, and it does so to a tee.

Agent Buchanan (Cillian Murphy).

Cast performances are again standard for the genre. Johnny Depp is perhaps not as good in this film as he has been in others, then again, he doesn't have a lot of screen time, so it's harder to judge for certain. While there may not be a lot of emotion or rise and fall in his voice for most of the film, for most of the film, he is nothing more than an AI interface, so this actually works well.

Rebecca Hall gives an amazing performance as Evelyn, particularly in the more intense emotional moments, when one assumes she is delivering her performance to an empty room - without the benefit of another actor to 'bounce off' emotionally - which only adds to the impressiveness of what she can convey.

Director Wally Pfister has made a fairly standard science fiction thriller here, that is certainly enjoyable enough to warrant more than one viewing. I have seen this film a few times now, and it still affects me each time, so that must be saying something. If you haven't seen it, it is certainly worth a watch; there is plenty to think about and discuss afterwards.

7 out of 10.

127 Hours (2010)

Based on the book 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place' by Aron Ralston, this film tells the true story of a man who spent - you guessed it - 127 hours with his arm trapped under a rock.

Aron (James Franco) is an intrepid adventurer, and one Saturday, he ventures into the canyons of Utah, planning to rappel down a cliff face. After meeting strangers Kristi (Kate Mara) and Megan (Amber Tamblyn), and showing them to the climb they are looking for, he heads off on his own.

While climbing down between two rock faces, the rock he is standing on slips beneath him, and as he falls, the rock falls too, and traps his arm against the cliff.

Aron Ralston (James Franco).

Try as he might, he cannot pull it free and, given that no one else knows where he is, faces the prospect that he will inevitably die here.

Nevertheless, over the coming days, he tries as many things as he can think of to free himself, while also recording a video message for his parents (Treat Williams and Kate Burton) in case anything goes wrong.

I won't go any further with plot description, you really need to see it for yourself.

It goes without saying that the majority of the film consists of only James Franco on screen, and he carries this incredibly well. It takes a real talent to hold the attention of the audience with only one person, but Franco is truly in his element here. There are occasional flashbacks to earlier memories, including the turbulent relationship with ex-girlfriend Rana (Clémence Poésy), and his close relationship with his sister Sonja (Lizzy Caplan).

Aron Ralston (James Franco) and Rana (Clémence Poésy).

The screenplay is written by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy, based on Ralston's own memoir. I have not read the book, so cannot comment on the quality of the adaptation, but the script is very well constructed. Again, with only one person on screen for the majority of the film, it cannot have been an easy undertaking, but the writers have managed to inject the script with plenty of action, and plenty of conflict, so that you will be on the edge of your seat from the moment Aron falls until the film's conclusion.

A. R. Rahman's music is barely present, but in a good way. At no point does any underscoring detract from what is going on on screen, but the few times where music is used, it is always supporting the on-screen action or, more to the point, the increasing level of tension and suspense.

Where this film truly shines is in its cinematography. Enrique Chediak and Anthony Dod Mantle have captured not only the beautiful landscape of the natural environment, but also bring us right into the action when Aron finds himself trapped. The camera shots are well balanced between the vision from his camcorder and traditional shots that take in all the action. But at all times, we are right there in the middle of everything, experiencing Aron's growing terror along with him.

Aron Ralston (James Franco).

Director Danny Boyle has truly captured the emotion and fear of Aron's experience here. Despite having seen this film several times before, I still found myself drawn in yet again watching it for the purposes of writing this review; every twist and turn in the plot shocked me all over again.

If you haven't seen this film yet, I suggest you watch it at your earliest convenience.

7 out of 10.