Review of A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) by Pascal V — 14 May 2012

There's lots to say about this highly anticipated film by Steven Spielberg. The film was originally to be made by Stanley Kubrick, but Spielberg was the one who made it in the end after Kubick's death.

Up to two-thirds of A.I., this is an amazing fairy-tale about a robot who desperately wants to be loved by his ("foster")mother. The point is made very clearly: even if we can make a robot love a human, who is really going to love the robot back? Unfortunately, Spielberg goes overboard in the last part of the film, forcing a happy ending that never should have been. All sorts of magic figures pop up, scenes start to look like hallucinations, all logic disappears. What a shame....

I should be fair: the first part is superb, it's like a much better version of Bicentennial Man. What remains of A.I. in the end are the beautiful special effects, the very funny Jude Law and most of all the magnificent acting performance of Haley Joel Osmont as the mecha (robot) David. I do hope he won't be unjustly neglected at Oscar night, like he was at the time of Sixth Sense.

A fascinating film, but nevertheless slightly disappointing.