Welcome back for another look at a film from one of the featured Letterboxd Lists! This week we have another new list that I have not pulled from yet. Someone was gracious enough to go through all of the “Four Favorites” interviews that Letterboxd has done and compile a list of every film mentioned. So, from the Letterboxd Four Favorites Interviews list today we have… A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001).
Title: A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Director: Steven Spielberg
Released: June 29, 2001 (Canada and the United States)
Runtime: 2 hours 26 minutes
Own it but it is also available to stream on: Paramount+
Humanity has learned the hard way that global warming is in-fact very real. In the 22nd century, rising sea levels have completely wiped coastal cities off of the maps. As a result, the developed nations have created humanoid robots called mechas to try and offset the population decline. The hope being that these mechas can fill various roles in our society.
While most of the mechas have been replicated after adults, Henry (Sam Robards) and Monica (Frances O’Connor) find themselves in the rare position of being able to acquire a mecha child. Monica’s son, Martin, has been infected with a rare disease and is kept isolated from them. So, in order to fill the void of having a child, they turn to David (Haley Joel Osment). David is 11 years old, 60lbs, and 4’6″ tall and will be the same for as long as he is a functional mecha. Though it takes awhile for Monica to warmup to the idea of David, eventually she begins to see him as her own son.
David’s love for Monica is real, now all he wants is to feel loved in return.
However, Martin appears to have miraculously recovered from his condition and is returning home.
Can David and Martin coexist as siblings?
How will Martin’s return disrupt the family dynamic that has been built?
While the score for A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) is one that I’ve listened to frequently over the years, I’ve only actually seen the film once before.
One of the things that definitely stood out to me was that it is a Spielberg/Kubrick production. Yeah, that’s right, Stanley Kubrick. Kubrick was the one to initially adapt “Supertoys Last All Summer Long” and requested that Spielberg be the one to direct it.
Long story short, the film was basically stuck in development hell, for one reason or another, for years. After Kubrick passed, his widow approached Spielberg and asked him to complete the project. Now having rewatched it, you’re able to tell that the end result is a blend of Kubrick’s more bleak approach to things and Spielberg’s more hopeful/wholesome and upbeat approach.
As for the actual film itself, I happened to really enjoy it. Surprisingly, it still looks great visually. Yes, there are a few instances where the CGI maybe hasn’t aged like a fine wine. But overall, it tends to hold up.
There’s a rather jarring transition in the story when David first winds up meeting Gigolo Joe (Jude Law). However, Law is great in the role and the reason for the transition eventually explains itself.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) wound up being one that I wish I would’ve revisited sooner. Yes, for some the runtime will be a turn off. Personally, I found myself engaged throughout and when the credits rolled it didn’t feel like I just sat through a two-and-a-half hour movie.
While I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as “top-tier” Spielberg, it is most definitely another solid, bordering on great, movie from one of my favorite directors of all time.
Well, now it’s your turn.
What are your thoughts on A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)?
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