TRANSCENDENCE

US/UK, 2014, 119 minutes, Colour.
Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bethany, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Clifton Collins Jr, Kate Mara, Lucas Haas, Cole Hauser.
Directed by Wally Pfister.

This is a science fiction film, executive produced by Christopher Nolan, director of the Batman films as well as the ingenious Inception. The director, first time, is Nolan’s director of photography, Wally Pfister.

The scenario takes us into the future, perhaps the near future, because so much of the world is recognisable here. But it begins ominously with Paul Bethany as Max, a brain scientist informing us that the Internet has been turned off some years earlier and the society has to a rather primitive state. He then goes on to explain what happened those years ago and what happened to his friends, Will and Evelyn.

Will is a leading scientist, working on experiments on the human brain and personality. His wife, also a scientist, assists him in that work but has a vision for improving the world. We hear lectures from them, they are well received, work is going on in their laboratories, a visit from army connections and friends (Morgan Freeman and Cillian Murphy) – and then the laboratories explode and there is an assassination attempt on Will.

Will is played by Johnny Depp, in his serious vein in such films as The Ninth Gate, Sleepy Hollow, quite the opposite of Willie Wonka and Captain Jack Sparrow. Because of his advances in brain studies, his brain is able to be kept alive while connected to machines, even television monitors, which enables Johnny Depp still to give a performance via the screens. Evelyn is played by Rebecca Hall, devoted to her husband, anxious to keep his brain alive, collaborating with him, but beginning to wonder when strange phenomena are associated with people with injuries, almost instantaneous healing, and Will be able to be connected to them, present through them. As the crowds queue, Evelyn and we wonder what his intentions are, building up an ultra-strong group of healed humans, he controlling them, in an almost fascist-like way.

The rebels who were anti-artificial intelligence (but not against violence and assassinations in imposing their will) are still working against Will, prepared to sabotage his extensive underground laboratories, energised by a vast array of solar panels. Once again the army representatives, but this time not sympathetically. This creates an enormous dilemma for Evelyn, between her still strong love for her husband and the need to control his amassing power.

While Wally Pfister is able to direct his own director of photography to create beautiful images, his storytelling technique is quite slowly paced, even solemnly paced, which runs the danger of not enticing its audience to identify with the characters, the issues and the development of the drama. The musical score is fairly subdued, more soothing than invigorating. Ultimately, the plot developments are of sufficient interest to get most audiences involved even if not greatly enthused.

With the plot development of Will connected to technology, there are some echoes of the basic Frankenstein story, good intentions to create living creatures, but hubris taking over. There are many themes to reflect on, human life, the power of the scientist, the ‘playing God’ of those who wish to control life. And then there is the significance of the title. Will uses it to describe his developments in science and healing. The word indicates a surpassing of a previous state – and it also has religious connotations, of a power beyond the human, even of dignity.

Initial response to the film was not as enthusiastic as hoped for. But, it will take its place in the series of science fiction films which are not designed merely as big blockbusters.

1. Science-fiction? Science-fantasy? A future world? The tradition of this kind of intellectual science fiction?

2. The title, its meaning, Will and his idea of transcendence, moving forward in science and healing? The implications of human transcendence? Religious transcendence?

3. The modern world, lecture rooms, universities, laboratories? The touch of the future, underground laboratories, solar panels, the desert? The desert small town and its inhabitants? The lights going out, the Internet closedown?

4. The pace of the film, the plot growing on the audience, the musical score and its even pace?

5. The cast, Johnny Depp and his serious performances? The director, his work as a director of photography, bringing this experience to his direction?

6. The framework of Max, his narrative, no Internet, the primitive conditions in society? His memories of Will and Evelyn?

7. Will and Evelyn, their marriage, working together, science, his philosophy, her vision of changing the world? The initial lectures? The achievement, the applause? Yet the hostile members of the audience?

8. The laboratories, the experiments going on, humans, monkeys, brain work? The sudden explosions? The assassination attempt on Will?

9. Max and his friendship, support? Jack and Buchanan coming, the inspection, the military connections for experiments? Will rejecting this?

10. Will, the injuries to his body, the treatment in hospital, his being kept alive? The brain science? The possibilities for healing? His brain attached to the technology? The decision to do the experiment? The overtones of the Frankenstein mythology, creation of life, hubris?

11. Two years passing, Will alive, the television monitors, the link to the Internet? His presiding, continually seek continuing his experiments, Evelyn helping him, his going beyond her assistance? Her nightmares? His advice, the developments?

12. His plant, its extent, the underground laboratories and corridors, the solar panels in the desert? Martin and the attack by the thugs, his injuries, his healing, his physical abilities afterwards? Will and his being able to communicate through Martin, approaching Evelyn, the sexual possibilities?

13. Will’s intentions, the big queues of people coming for healing, the process of healing, the visit of Jack and Buchanan, seeing the range of people in their beds, the arm, the progress of healing? Will and his control, building an army, fascist dictatorship? Evelyn’s caution?

14. Jack and Buchanan, the military backgrounds, the friendship, coming to observe, the tour, the discussions with Will, leaving the note for Evelyn, wanting her to leave?

15. The group of rebels, anti-artificial intelligence, the underground bunker, the military plans for attack, Max joining them, seeing what uncontrolled brain science can do? The consciousness of being in the right, yet their violent methods?

16. Exploding the solar panels, the characters of the rebels, Bree and her militant intentions, the cannons, the chaos?

17. Evelyn, realising what Will was doing, talking with Jack and Buchanan and Murphy, the plan, the injection with the virus, her trying to persuade Will to perform the same process for her? The canons, her being shot, the injuries, her being put on life support, the connection with Will?

18. The visuals of the shining elements rising from the desert, assembling again, the panels being destroyed, the elements rising and their being re-consitituted?

19. Will, his achievement, death, Evelyn and her self-sacrifice?

20. The virus taking, the lights going out, and the collapse of civilisation? Possibilities for starting again?