THE TOMORROW MAN
US, 1996, 85 minutes, Colour.
Julian Sands, Giancarlo Esposito, Craig Wasson.
Directed by Brian d' Elia.
The Tomorrow Man was to be part of a series called Future. This film would have acted as a pilot – and the ending is open to further episodes. However, it was not taken up as a series and the film had to stand alone as a television film.
It is futuristic in the sense that the film opens as a planet centuries in advance of the present time is destroyed. However, all published information in the history of the world is inserted in a chip and inserted into a robot who is sent back to the present. The robot is able to assume any shape, finally assumes the appearance of a model on an advertising hoarding, uses a human assistant in order to thwart sabotage to a rocket. Had the rocket been sabotaged, it would have meant no money available for space exploration which would lead to the destruction of the human race. The theory is, that the robot comes back from the future in order to save humanity because it is the nature of machines to be at the service of humanity.
Julian Sands is the robot, bringing a suave British manner as well as a mechanical presentation of the emotionless creature. Needless to say, he acquires some semblance of emotion by the end of the film. Giancarlo Esposito has a good role as a computer expert who is seconded by the robot to help him in his mission as well as to teach him how to act as a human being. Craig Wasson is the sinister investigator who, it is revealed, had killed the previous robot messenger and wants the chip in order to control the world.
Familiar science fiction material. The opening is a bit creaky – reminiscent of some of the B-budget science fiction of the 50s and 60s. However, the partnership between Sands and Esposito is quite engaging as they try to save the world. They do.
1. An entertaining science fiction? The world and its future? The future centuries and the sending back of a saviour to the world? A machine to save humanity?
2. The prologue, the planet being destroyed, the laboratory, the insertion of the chip? The features of the robot? Oldfashioned-looking science fiction?
3. The move to the present day, the familiar places, the highways, motels, the space exploration offices, plants? The musical score?
4. The series: Future. This episode called The Tomorrow Man? Designed for a television series? Having to stand alone as a television film?
5. The focus on the Tomorrow Man? Landing on Earth, the planes accompanying the ship? Landing, Doctor Galloway and his leading the investigation? The robot and his assuming different shapes, the animals in the woods? His stopping Jonathan Driscoll as he was driving, drowsing at the wheel? Transforming into Ken, the billboard image? Driscoll taking him to the hospital, the examination, the puzzle about his constitution? His escaping, taking different forms? Meeting Jonathan again?
6. Jonathan, his background, going to Utah for a job? His theories being rejected? His expertise? His encounter with Ken, the hospital, the police?
7. Getting to Phoenix, the credit card and the possibility of detection? However, the flight? The success? The flight attendant watching them? Ken listening in to her conversation? Improvising at the airport, Jonathan as blind, Ken and his disguise as a guide dog? Their getting away, the reaction of the taxi driver? Their going to the hotel, checking in, Jonathan’s weariness? Ken and his going downstairs, the drinks, the woman picking him up, going to her room, the effect on her?
8. Galloway, his relentlessness, the criticisms by the police? His high-handed attitudes, his mocking people? The revelation of what had happened in the past, his destroying the previous robot? Knowing about the chip? Wanting power?
9. Jonathan and Ken, going to the plant? Ken and the computer and fixing the interview? Their meeting with Joyce Henderson, with Berman? Checking on them, the tour of the plant?
10. Berman, crooked, the murderer to get the chip, to kill Joyce? Joyce at home, the murderer attacking her, Ken and Jonathan intruding, saving her? The information from the disc?
11. Berman, his failure, in the helicopter, threatening Jonathan, falling to his death?
12. Ken and his being shot by Doctor Galloway, in the hospital, under guard? His assuming the identity of the guard, helping Jonathan get out? Going for the launch, Ken and his warnings, people escaping from the plant, including Doctor Galloway? His taking the device, driving out into the desert, detonating it? His return to get Jonathan – and their driving into a sequel (which did not happen)?
13. The film raising interesting theories about time travel, about the future of the human race, of the possibilities of altering history? A more optimistic look at the human future except for natural disasters transforming Earth? Destroying the humans? The machines and their being at the service of humans and therefore saving the human race?
