October 13th, 2014 
James Shotwell 
Film: Automata
Starring: Antonio Banderas
Directed By: Gabe Ibáñez
Robots have once again broke the protocols man set for them in the new film Automata.
Starring Antonio Banderas as Jacq Vaucan, Automata takes place in the not too distant future. Life on Earth has taken its typical dystopian turn, causing the worldwide population to dwindle to a mere 21 million. To aide us in our survival, mankind develops robots to build the machines needed to help sustain life on Earth and Jacq makes a living checking up on reports of faulty machines across his bustling city. These calls range from domestic robots living in apartments, to those the city depends on for renovations. On the day we encounter our lead he’s introduced to the remains of a robot that’s quite peculiar: everything looks normal on the surface; but after inspecting its wiring, it becomes clear the machine has been altered.
This setup is not too distant from a number of sci-fi films that have been released in the years since Blade Runner first debuted in theaters. Automata sets itself apart early on with a very unique and defined vision of the future. The robots look more machine than human, though some are capable of wearing masks that resemble human faces, and every one is able to talk (when spoken to, of course). The robot Jacq shown at the beginning of the film speaks to a reality where such rules do not necessarily apply. Soon he begins a pursuit for information that will uncover a shocking, albeit somewhat predictable truth about the future of everything on the planet.
I won’t lie to you: there’s not a lot to this film that you have not seen before in several other genre titles, but those ideas have never been combined and channeled through the brilliant vision of filmmaker Gabe Ibáñez. His script takes cues from science fiction classics and spins them just enough to keep you engaged until the credits begin to roll. He’s helped in no small part by Banderas’ impressive lead performance, as well as that of Melanie Griffith, who actually portrays two characters. Dylan McDermott appears for a bit as well, but he chews the scenery so hard at times you’d think he thought he was performing in something for the SyFy channel.
What Automata lacks in originality it makes up for with a daring third act that addresses the very real possibility of a robots succeeding the human race over time. It’s an idea many films approached in the past, but Automata takes things one step further and allows audiences a front row seat to potential future that is both heartbreaking and not far out of reach. To call it thought-provoking may be overselling the impact these moments will have on you, but when viewed with a friend there will almost certainly be hypothetical conversations to be had. Why are we here? Why do we create? Why do we limit the abilities of what we create, and in what way – if any has whatever created us limited our abilities? Is it possible to create something capable of thought without losing control altogether? Is losing control necessarily a bad thing? All this and more comes to the forefront, and it comes accompanied with just enough gunplay to keep those looking for more straightforward storytelling equally engaged.
The look of Automata is arguably its most impressive accomplishment. I’ve lost count of how many films depicts a future where Earth is next to inhabitable and everyone runs around with trendy trench coats, but while those elements are present here they exist within a world that has never been brought to life on film before. Mankind has crumbled just as it has in other films, yes, but our understanding of why that happened and what – if anything – can be done to make it better is incredibly limited. As a result, many have lost hope, and others have committed themselves fully to financial gain. They know the ship is sinking, but they still want to go out in a three piece suit. Jacq does not necessarily fit either of these categories, though he does embody each at separate points in the film. He’s the prototypical ‘exception to the norm,’ and it’s through his willingness to accept the unexpected that he’s able to undertook he journey that awaits him in this film.
Though it’s easy to argue that many of its best ideas have appeared in other genre titles, Automata offers a thrilling and beautifully conceived look at mankind’s struggle to understand our own mortality that is hard to shake. It’s the most believable version of a future where man and robots communicate that I have seen in many years, and it’s carried on the back of veteran film hero with talent to spare. Fans of science fiction will love everything this film has to offer, but there’s plenty for action fans to enjoy as well. It’s not the most original film of 2014, but it’s executed in such a way that there is little doubt in my mind we will still discuss elements of its universe for many years to come.
GRADE: C+
Review written by James Shotwell Follow @utgjames
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