Movie Review: Transcendence

Transcendence is a production in which Depp plunges into the inner realms of science that propounds theories around the possibility that computers can take over the mind of man and exist and thrive in a cyberspace.

Transcendence is loaded with plot holes and incongruities. And, after a while, it becomes bloated and incapable of providing any form of cinematic satisfaction.

Depp is cast as computer genius Will Caster, who is close to making a key breakthrough in the advancement of artificial intelligence.

This makes him the target of fringe terrorist groups who believe the rise of the computer is leading to the downfall of humankind. They attack Will at a function and critically injure him. With only five weeks to live, and as his body begins to shut down, Will begins the process of uploading his consciousness into the most advanced computer on earth – a project continued by his wife, Evelyn (Hall), and a colleague, Max Waters (Paul Bettany), after his death.

The process works magnificently but the “transcended” Will is a cold, calculating, dangerous entity whose sole goal is the accumulation of knowledge and power. Max is immediately aware of the situation and alerts others, including fellow computer scientist, Joseph Tagger (Morgan Freeman), and FBI agent Buchanan (Cillian Murphy).

Transcendence marks the directorial debut of Wally Pfister, the veteran cinematographer who has worked behind the camera on all of Christopher Nolan’s films since Memento. The acting is solid enough, although too little is made of Bettany, Freeman and Murphy, and a key element – the deep love between Will and Evelyn – is weak and unconvincing and prevents the narrative from truly igniting.

While the film looks good and the special effects work extremely well, the art of compelling story telling is somewhat lost in this mishmash of ideas. A major flaw, too, is in the film’s structure, with the majority of the story being told in flashback and thus telegraphing the ending.

It’s intelligent, yes, but it’s also artificial.