Artificial Intelligence: AI
Spielberg's Role: Director, Producer, Writer (screenplay)
US Release Date: 2001
just what
is real?
No director is watched quite as closely as Steven
Spielberg. No one... except the late Stanley Kubrick. For
years now Stanely Kubrick has been working on a science
fiction project. This project was always just out of
reach of the technology available. It wasn't until just a
few years ago when Kubrick began to think the project
just might be possible in his lifetime. He started
working more seriously only to be sidetracked by what
would turn out to be his last film "Eyes Wide Shut".
After Kubrick's
death, Steven Spielberg decided to take on the project.
He had been friends with Kubrick, and believed he had an
understanding of what Kubrick was looking for in the film.
Plot
AI was inspired by a short story by
Brian Aldiss called Super-Toys Last All Summer
Long. The story is about a family growing up in
an overpopulated world of the future. A young boy and his
semi-intelligent toy bear ponder the meaning of reality
as young David discovers his true nature. In a world of
government controlled reproduction, David's father
creates synthetic life-forms for functionality,
entertainment and even companionship. Imagine the
confusion of a young boy, as he tries to decide - "am
I real?"
"Teddy - I
suppose Mummy and Daddy are real, aren't they?"
Teddy said, "
You ask such silly questions, David. Nobody knows
what 'real' really means."
The full
text of the short story can be found at Wired.com. I
suggest reading it, if you are at all interested in
Science Fiction. (WARNING: since the movie hasn't been
released, there is no way to tell if the story contains
spoilers)
Author
The story inspiring AI was written by Brian Aldiss, a
British author who is known for his great Sci-fi. The
movie, however, is not being written by Aldiss. Steven
Spielberg has written the screen play himself, based on
the short story by Aldiss, and (according to rumor) the
personal notes of Stanley Kubrick.
Cast
Haley
Joel Osment plays the lead role. Osment played Forest Gump Jr. in the film Forrest
Gump. Most people, however would recognize
him as the Cole Sear from The Sixth Sense.
It takes one amazing 11 year old to steal the show from
Bruce Willis.
Jude Law is
also expected to have a lead role. No stranger to Sci-fi,
Law played the disabled astronaut, Jerome in Gattca.
His most recent role was opposite Matt Damon in The
Talented Mr. Ripley.
Also staring in the
film are: |
Keith Campbell |
Stuntman in many movies; most recently Mission
Impossible 2 |
Frances O'Connor |
|
Sam Robards |
Most recently played in American
Beauty, as the "partner"
of Scott Bakula's character |
Adam Scott |
Played Josh Macon on Party of
Five |
Jake Thomas |
Young starting actor, played "the kid"
for The Man Show |
|