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A visually stunning and occasionally moving film that comes close to rising up to be something great, but usually falls short. The plot is derivative of quite a few other sci-fi concepts, albeit with its own twists. Although many critics are talking about the timeliness of the subject matter on AI, this is more of a traditional story in that genre and not based on modern-day headlines. There are some key moments about the rise of this AI, but they’re glossed over to the point that the synthetic characters lose some of the empathy the audience should feel about them. The plot flirts with the concept of what makes something alive, but really doesn’t dig that deep into the idea. While most of the acting is fine, John David Washington is the clear standout, particularly with his fairly grounded, and often humorous character. The movie sets up for some impactful emotional moments, but the story beats don’t quite properly set up the payoffs. However, the film’s greatest strength is its visuals. Besides some cool futuristic tech, there’s some amazing shots, many involving a mammoth spaceship that plays a key role in the plot.
***1/2 out of *****