Okay, okay! So we’re taking a few liberties with this one. A.I. Artificial Intelligence was a film project initially developed by Stanley Kubrick. Regardless of the years he spent on the project alongside original story writer Brian Aldiss, the director’s perfectionism stood between him and the final film that he wanted to make. Upon his death, the project was passed on to Steven Spielberg who completed the project in homage to his contemporary and friend.
Throughout, A.I. Artificial Intelligence features typical Kubrickian themes, most notably dehumanisation and the exploration of the dark side of the human psyche. The film itself is punctuated with nods to Kubrick through the use of specific Kubrick-style shots, a grandiose musical score and borrowed motifs.
This scene finds the robotic boy and surrogate son, David, challenged for the affections of his adopted parents affection by the return of their biological son, Martin. At the family dinner table, Mr and Mrs Swinton talk all things adult whilst Martin provokes David into eating human food, even though it risks breaking him (think dropping your iphone in your tea!) The resulting scene is a truly memorable moment which both shocks with its severity and amazes with its visual artistry.
Throw in some neat nods to 2001: A Space Odyssey through the almost like-for-like dialogue of “Stop David, please stop!” and there’s enough to make A.I. Artificial Intelligence an interesting watch for any Kubrick fan.
Feast your eyes…
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Brian Aldiss, Ian Watson, Steven Spielberg/Steven Spielberg
STARS: Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, Frances O’Connor,
RUNTIME: 146 mins
COUNTRY: USA
