Film Review: "The Creator" (2023).

"From the director of Rogue One" comes The Creator. This science-fiction action thriller film directed by Gareth Edwards, and written by Edwards and Chris Weitz. Amidst a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, Joshua, a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife, is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war… and mankind itself. Joshua and his team of elite operatives journey across enemy lines, into the dark heart of AI-occupied territory only to discover the world-ending weapon he's been instructed to destroy is an AI in the form of a young child.

In November 2019, development began when Edwards signed on to direct and write an untitled science fiction project. Plot specifics are currently undisclosed, though sources say casting is underway and the hope is shoot by summer 2020. After Rogue One (2016), Edwards began developing several projects, wanting to make sure his next project was the right one before committing. Sources say New Regency jumped at the opportunity once he took his mystery project to the market. A test shoot and location scouting was conducted that year in Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Nepal, with Edwards using it as the opportunity to envision the look of the film. In February 2020, the film was officially announced. He cited Akira (1988), Apocalypse Now (1979), Baraka (1992), Blade Runner (1982), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Paper Moon (1973), Rain Man (1988), and The Hit (1984) as this film's sources of inspiration. By mid January 2022, John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, Sturgill Simpson, Allison Janney, Ralph Ineson, Marc Menchaca, Veronica Ngo, and Madeleine Yuna Voyles were cast. Benedict Wong was originally cast but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. He was ultimately replaced by Watanabe. At the same time, with a budget of $86 million, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late May. Filming took place at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England and throughout South East Asia under the working True Love. The film was shot on the prosumer Sony FX3 camera and in the 2.76:1 ultra-wide aspect ratio. In mid July 2023, Edwards confirmed that Hans Zimmer was hired to score the film. The visual effects were provided by Industrial Light & Magic, Wētā FX, Folks VFX, MARZ, Misc Studios, Fin Design + Effects, Supreme Studio, Outpost VFX, Crafty Apes, Jellyfish Pictures, VFX Los Angeles, Frontier VFX, Outpost VFX and Clear Angle Studios.

Washington and Voyles are genuine characters who spend all their screen time contemplating serious platitudes about how humanity sure looks different when you see it from the perspective of artificial intellegence.

Beautifully shot and capably handled, Edwards' fourth cinematic directorial effort is a heartfelt and touching exploration of two well-drawn, troubled characters, which just happens to feature artificial intelligence as a backdrop to the central narrative.

Simon says The Creator receives:

Also, see my review for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.