jimbo-53-186511
Joy Andrews (Lucy Griffiths) is a reporter who is given the opportunity to spend 7 days with a robotics expert David Kressan (Mark Webber) and his creation Adam (David Clayton Rogers) whom is the most believable and realistic AI that has ever been created - he's an AI that David has lived in isolation with for the last 7 years. Things start to take a turn for the worse when Adam starts to exhibit abnormal and disturbing behaviour towards Joy when it seems that both the AI and its creator begin to develop feelings for the same woman...There are two words that sprung to mind when I was watching this film 'EX MACHINA' and it seems fairly obvious that ANDROID borrows quite heavily from this film. Both films cover the same theme of developing an AI that is capable of fooling humans and with an AI that is more self-aware than its creator imagines or believes.The problems with Android begin at a very early stage with the initial story set-up; the dialogue that is exchanged between the characters is mind-boggling and contains words that only scientists or members of MENSA are likely to be able to understand. I got the feeling that this was included at the start of the film to try and make it seem clever (which in retrospect becomes laughable when you learn of the simplistic plotting). The poor dialogue and lack of much happening in the first half makes for a fairly slow opener (although those for a penchant for Chess will be well catered for here).The second half is better if only because it has some life to it and has more going for it; there is a battle between the AI and its creator and the power struggle between the two is interesting, but whilst it is interesting it's never really a story that grips or involves (mainly because it offers nothing that we haven't seen before). It's difficult to critique performances in a film focusing on AI as naturally some performers are going to be 'cough cough' slightly robotic; this is the case for Webber and Rogers for the most part although Rogers fares best out of the two men (but in fairness this is because he is given more to work with). Griffiths is given the role of the most 'normal' person, but she works the role well giving a rather natural performance, but she's able to flex her acting chops later in the film.The end result of all this is a rather poor film with little in the way of originality or surprises and with its rather dull and dialogue-heavy first half it makes for an uneven film which sadly, for the most part, is fairly uninvolving. It's very similar to Ex Machina and even though I thought that film was overrated and had its fair share of problems I would still pick that film over this one.
MrFilmic
Although well traversed, especially more so since the turn of the century, artificial intelligence and its impact on humanity remains one of the main Sci-Fi tropes. Android certainly fits into this category, well written and well acted for the most part it does however ultimately let itself down at the final hurdle, with an ending that seems more fitting of a lesser film With shadows of Ex Machina and the excellent Westworld TV series, Android tackles the concepts of human vs created awareness, with some expected and unexpected consequences. With only 4 characters on screen the script is effective and the performances are engaging Certainly worth watching and without giving anything away, expect to be stimulated cerebrally rather than adrenergically!
Tanya Hazelden
This is one of the most thought provoking movies I have ever watched. After watching it, it leaves you with a feeling that something isn't right, so many questions, you may have to watch it a few time to really see it's beautiful genius. And no offense to anyone else who wrote a review, but did you really watch the movie? It's a very well thought out script, everything said and shown is there for a reason. This movie is crafted to perfection. I've never written a review before, but having read all these other reviews I feel most people are missing the true beauty of this movie. Watch it again and really think about it, it is not a popcorn spoon fed movie, it's designed to make you think, make you question. That is it's genius. SPOILER ALERT: Plot summery: The movie seems to be about a Turning test, much like Ex Machina, Joy is brought in to write a report for a high tech magazine. Where she is introduced to Adam, she makes a Rainman joke at him, personally I thought this was really rude. What is with Joy why is she so unprofessional, anyway having talked with Adam for a few minutes David laughs OMG you didn't spot he is an AI, you an expert in the field couldn't tell he is an AI and her week long report starts, shown all the gadgets they have been working on, skin, bone, eye, etc. How David has been locked away from the world working on this project since he was 19, given unlimited funding and loves that he has been given the opportunity to contribute something truly amazing to humankind. He loves his work. As the movie progresses we get the sense all is not right with Adam, he does some quirky things for a machine, and Joy goes from being impressed with the technology to a growing dislike of Adam, but does start to fall in love with David. He's sweet kind and caring and she respects his vast intelligence. This is where the relationships between the characters really comes into play. On the last day Joy and David become sexual, and this really effects Adam. So much so that it results in a fight with David running away with Joy. Adam then knocks them out and they gain consciousness in the lab, David on the table and Joy tied to a chair. This is where Adam reveals that he is a real human and it is David that is the AI. SPOILER ALERT: SPOILER ALERT: Watch the movie before reading this, but it will make you watch the movie again. Most people in the reviews comment that the twist was so easy to spot, but I strongly disagree, it is there but did anyone else really see it? It's not like 6th Sense of oh he is a ghost, now all that other stuff makes sense, wow cool twist. The twist in this movie seems to say oh Adam is not really the AI it was David. Most people think this is sloppy, there were loads of clues. But this is the beauty of this movie and also explains the extra end scene of Joy in her flat. Why is she so shocked she is pregnant? I'm not going to give away the twist, but will tell you after watching this movie carefully a few times, it is far more complex that it appears. I will however give you a clue. Rule 101 for any science is to not blindly believe anything you are told, look at the evidence. David laughs at Joy for not recognizing that Adam is an AI, they fooled her, and she spends a week writing her report. Only to be told no in fact they fooled her into believing Adam was an AI when in fact he is a human. You have to question what kind of expert in robotics can't tell if someone is machine or human for a whole week. Could anyone present a human as AI and they would pass the Turning test, it's like they have intelligence and emotion wouldn't be front page news for a tech magazine, yet she really believed Adam was an AI. This is what really got me questioning this movie. If you think that Adam revealing he is not an AI is the twist ending you would be very much mistaken. The twist is revealed in Castle's office, it's subtle, but it is there. Anyway I highly recommend this movie, it seems seriously underrated and should be viewed as a work of genius.
