Steven Spielberg's "A.I." is an astonishment; a visual and story-telling achievement. It centers on the story of a little robot, made to look, act and feel like a real little boy. He is adopted by a couple who have supposedly lost their own son. A scientist (William Hurt) warns them that if the robot is activated, he will forever love them as if he were real. When his adoptive mother Monica (Frances O'Connor) dumps him in the woods, David (the robot) becomes obsessed with finding the Blue Fairy from "Pinocchio" so she can make him real. Then, he thinks, he'll be able to come home to his new family where he'll be loved. This sets up a long journey in which David and his Teddy join lover robot Gigolo Joe (Jude Law) on a wild adventure.
The visuals in this movie are incredible, including a scary Flesh Fair, where robots are demolished by angry humans; an underwater Manhattan and others. But the acting is even more exemplary, with the greatest credit going to young Haley Joel Osment as David. His performance is a delicate balance between robot and human mannerisms. Conveying emotions with a subtlety that is rare for actors his age (13) and playing many difficult scenes with the professionalism of an actor twice his age. He is front and center throughout most of the film. In short he deserves an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. This would be historic, making Osment the second-youngest nominee in this category [and only the second child-actor, period, in a lead role]. Richard Dreyfuss' current record for youngest winner may be in jeopardy (he was 27 when he picked up his prize for "The Goodbye Girl"). Jude Law is also a likely supporting nominee again, after "The Talented Mr. Ripley."
Mr. Spielberg may have taken over from Stanley Kubrick but make no mistake: The finished product is a result of the talents of Spielberg and his team, combined with elements of Kubrick's vision. A snub from Oscar would be criminal.
My rating: * * * * (out of four)
The visuals in this movie are incredible, including a scary Flesh Fair, where robots are demolished by angry humans; an underwater Manhattan and others. But the acting is even more exemplary, with the greatest credit going to young Haley Joel Osment as David. His performance is a delicate balance between robot and human mannerisms. Conveying emotions with a subtlety that is rare for actors his age (13) and playing many difficult scenes with the professionalism of an actor twice his age. He is front and center throughout most of the film. In short he deserves an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. This would be historic, making Osment the second-youngest nominee in this category [and only the second child-actor, period, in a lead role]. Richard Dreyfuss' current record for youngest winner may be in jeopardy (he was 27 when he picked up his prize for "The Goodbye Girl"). Jude Law is also a likely supporting nominee again, after "The Talented Mr. Ripley."
Mr. Spielberg may have taken over from Stanley Kubrick but make no mistake: The finished product is a result of the talents of Spielberg and his team, combined with elements of Kubrick's vision. A snub from Oscar would be criminal.
My rating: * * * * (out of four)