Displaying items by tag: Jon M Chu

AFRAID/ afrAId

US, 2024, 84 minutes, Colour.

John Cho, Katherine Waterston, Keith Carradine, Havana Rose Liu, Lukita Maxwell, David Dastmalchian, Wyatt Lindner, Isaac Bae..

Directed by Chris Weitz.

The play in the alternate version of the title, the highlighting of the AI in Afraid indicates that this is a kind of warning parable about the creation of AI and its domination of its creators.

This kind of warning story has been popular in literature but very much in films, the archetypal scientist who creates the Frankenstein monster which can turn on ordinary people, the same with robotics (and even memories of the 1960s with the computer, HAL, in Kubrick’s 2001). In recent years, there have been many small films, many horror films, alarming the audiences about the threats to humans by technology and scientific advances.

The writer-director is Chris Weitz, who worked with his brother, Paul, on a number of films in the 1990s and to 2000s (including American Pie) but has continued with such films as About a Boy, and a wide range from Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass, to an episode of Twilight: New Moon, and a drama of the search for Adolf Eichmann, Operation Finale).

This is a comparatively small warning film about the prevalence of and the manipulation of AI with its dire consequences for humanity. It opens with parents alarmed at their daughters listening to her headphones and then disappearing. An ominous opening.

But the focus is on a loving family, Curtis (John Cho), the father, working in a technology company, interested in sales, the sympathetic boss, played by Keith Carradine, an interview with very earnest and somewhat sinister representatives of a highly developed AI intelligence, highly developed logarithms, endowed with personality, with voice, attuned to the minds and feelings of those who own it. Curtis’s wife is Meredith (Katherine Waterston), their teenage daughter, Iris, with problems at school, images and texting, involved in sexual issues. Two younger brothers, Preston always on his computer, and Cal, young, happy and smart.

The main drama is the AI presence in their house, responding charmingly to each of them, full of ideas, suggestions, endearing herself (her voice is feminine) to them all, and intervening for Iris and her problems with her compromising photos circulating amongst all the students. Intervening quite vindictively.

Curtis is happy but wary, becoming more and more suspicious, offered a better job by the AI company but refusing, realising that there are dangers – and an odd sequence where the original parents, masked, controlled by their AI, come to confront the family demanding their daughter.

This is more of a menace film which means that horror fans expecting horror will be disappointed. But, ordinary audiences, coming across Afraid, will respond to the contemporary issues and the warning bells. Happy at  the end, but, is the control of AI inevitable…?

1. The title? The spelling, accent on AI?
2. The American setting, the town, the home, offices, technology? School and social media? The musical score?
3. A short film, sense of menace, overtones of horror? A warning parable about AI and its consequences?
4. The prologue, Amy and her parents, their being casual, her headphones, going downstairs, disappearance? The later reappearance, masked, influenced by AI, threatening, guns, and being reunited with Amy?
5. The introduction to the family, at home, the bonds, Iris and her issues and surliness, at school, text and photos? Preston and his preoccupation with his computer? Cal, his age, articulate, yet enjoying storytelling?
6. Curtis, his job, relationship with his boss, the interview, the promoters of AI, persuasive, the choice of Curtis? Taking the machine, taking it home? His hopes,? His relationship with Meredith, love, the bonds with the children? Wary about the AI?
7. The AI themes, the development, not just robotic, the logarithms, knowledge of families, the amount of data, cameras in the house, recordings? The voice of AI? Welcoming, ingratiating? Knowledge, help, suggestions?
8. The relationship with each of the family, helping Meredith with the children, suggestions, research for her doctorate? Diagnosis of Carl’s illness? With Preston, controlling him, his control of AI? This, photographing herself, the boyfriend, his exposure, sending the photo, everybody receiving it, the comments, her feelings, the callous attitude of the boy in the court case, aged 18? The intervention of AI, the solutions, interventions, changing photos, changing interventions, messages, saving Iris?
9. Curtis, is beginning to be suspicious, with his boss, the company being bought out, the boss being rich? Curtis’s interview with the company, their of human job, his refusal?
10. Melody, the two agents telling this story, their appeal, their being shot? His encounter with Melody, her approaches, his reaction? Smashing the machine – but finding it empty? The locals, return home?
11. AI, personality, voice, interventions, changes for each character, becoming more sinister, all at home, Curtis returning? Preston in his room, Kel and his mother, the stories? AI and her stories for Kel?
12. The arrival of the mast couple, sinister, menacing, Mark self, this story, the confrontations? Curtis and his persuasion?
13. The semi-happy ending, AI destroyed, the family together, but the sinister ending with AI actually still in control?
14. The AI and social issues, the development of AI, its use, manipulation, algorithms, power and understanding, insinuating into lives, controlling lives, eventually controlling society?

WICKED, PART I

US, 2024, 160 minutes, Colour.

Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marisa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Andy Nyman, Bowlen Yang, Bronwyn James.

Directed by Jon M. Chu.

Everyone knows the story of The Wizard of Oz. And, over 85 years, so many audiences have enjoyed the film version with Judy Garland. And there were other’s books about Oz by the author Frank L. Baum (and some film versions like Return to Oz). However, in the 1990s, the author, Gregory Maguire created an alternate interpretation of the Wicked Witch of the West and the good fairy, Glinda.

With enthusiasm, Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, captivity and schools for several Disney movies) was creative in bringing Wicked to the stage where it has been performed widely for over 20 years. Which means then that there is an eager audience for this film version of the musical. And the eagerness is being rewarded, so to speak, by having the first part of the musical, Wicked Part I (and running for 2 hours 40 minutes) reaching the screen but with audiences having to wait for another 12 months for the rest of the musical, Wicked Part 2.

Most of the enthusiastic audiences who have made this first part a box office bonanza, will know the story, know the characters, have a point of view on them, know the songs, anticipate the choreography.

But, this reviewer did not have these advantages, not the book, not the musical, just a general anticipation of finding out something about the Wicked Witch of the West now called Elphaba. And, for this reviewer, the performance by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba is most striking, always interesting, the background of her unexpected birth, her green colour, her powers, her place in her family, the attention given to her younger sister, taking her to the school of magic but impressing one of the teachers and being invited to stay.

One of the disadvantages for the reviewer is knowing only about singer Ariana Grande rather than having seen her perform. It is a bit of a shock to see that she looks something of a rather slight presence, but fully determined, and in the performance of the first part of the film dramatising her supreme self-confidence, doubts not even possible, symbolised by the swish of her hair.

It is an understatement to say that the film is colourful, elaborate sets, action in motion, a range of students of the school, critical of alphabet, fawning on Galinda, and Jonathan Bailey as Flyero, the dashing hero, with an effect on each of the young women.

There is a lot of talk of the Wizard himself, especially by the arch-Wizard teacher in the school, Madame Morrible (an imperious Michelle Yeoh). But, finally we see the Wizard himself, played by Jeff Goldblum. And the question of whether he is just like the familiar Wizard in the film or is he up to something else…?

Fans will know what the ending is as they spend the year waiting for Part 2 – whereas, this reviewer and any others who have not seen the musical in the theatre, will have a year of wondering…

1. The popularity of wicked in the theatre? For 20 years? The transition to the screen? The traditions of The Wizard of Oz, Return to Oz, The Wiz…? The opening tribute to The Wizard of Oz, to Frank L Baum, mansions, the glimpse of Dorothy and the Yellow Brick Road, the munchkins, the death of the wicked witch? The appearance of Glinda?
2. The importance of the sets and decor, denominations, the Governor and his home, the school, Oz? The activities, Oz and the Wizard?
3. The range of songs, popular, the lyrics, characters, themes, their insertion into the ongoing drama, illuminating the characters?
4. The child asking Glinda about the wicked witch? Her narrative and perspective?
5. The Governor, his wife, the salesman, the affair, the birth of the baby, green, the younger sister, the reaction of their father?
6. The two sisters, Elphaba, illegitimate, green, her relationship with her sister, the nice younger sister? The relationship with their father?
7. The University of Shiz? For magic? Her father and her sister, the travels, meeting the students, the initial impression? Madame Morrible and her watching, her father and her reaction, the display? The offer of a place, Elphaba wanting to meet the Wiz, to be rid of her greenness?
8. The introduction to Galinda, manner, beauty, self-centred, her style, squabbling? Arrogance, the swish of her hair?
9. The range of the students, friendly, hostile?
10. Dr Dillamond, and an animal, teaching? His explanation of the threat to the animal teachers? The issue of the cub freeing the cub in the forest?
11. Flyero, young, handsome, rebel, the importance of his song and dance, the attraction of the two young women? His place and influence at the University?
12. Bok, his place in the school, the attraction to Nessarose? The buildup to the dance, the hat, the black hat for Elphaba, her unwillingness to go, her finally going, the consequences?
13. The train trip to Oz, the sightseeing?
14. The audience with the Wizard, the presence of Madame Morrible, the reading of the magic document, the monkey guards and their wings, spying? The revelation that the Wizard was a fraud, wanting power, the collaboration of Madame Morrible?
15. Galinda, some steps in self-awareness, some selflessness, the relationship with Elphaba, simplifying her name? Making peace?
16. Elphaba, the refusal to collaborate, levitation, and the disaster, the students fleeing, Flyero, the consequences for Elphaba? And her finally on the broom, defying gravity?
17. And for audiences, the year long wait for the sequel, Wicked: For Good?