Video: Johnny Depp In 'Transcendence'

– By Beau Behan, Film Critic & Entertainment Reporter

Originally published at 2:35 p.m. April 16, 2014. Edited to move video to top of the page.

• Transcendence (2014), PG-13, 119 min, drama, mystery, sci-fi
• Opening Nationwide, April 18, 2014

Three-time Academy Award nominated actor Johnny Depp portrays Dr. Will Caster in the science-fiction thriller movie,Transcendence—the feature film directorial debut of Oscar-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister (Dark Knight franchise, Inception).

The film’s screenplay, written by Jack Paglen, relates the story of Will Caster, a famous research scientist in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Due to their highly controversial experiments, Caster alongside his wife Evelyn (Roberta Hall), and his best friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany)—fellow researchers—have been the prime target of anti-technology extremists.

An attempt to assassinate Dr. Caster will change the course of history forever as Will becomes more determined to be an omnipotent and omniscient figure for mankind.

Transcendence tackles the definition of technological singularity. It proposes that moment in time when computers (artificial intelligence) achieve intelligence far greater than that of any human being in this planet. The film, however, takes it to the next level.

What happens when computers also develop the sense of perception and feelings—essentially being alive? What happens then when their emotions become too powerful for them to control? Consequences could be catastrophic!

The film’s cast and crew share some of their thoughts about Transcendence, and Pfister begins by explaining the premise of this movie.

“Transcendence is basically the uploading of the human brain into a super computer. Every bit of activity in the brain goes into a machine, which then becomes sentient.”

Producer Aaron Ryder adds, “it is the combination of biology and technology. I think it is inevitable.”

“It’s about how technology affects people’s opinions on life and death,” says Kate Mara, who plays rebel leader, Bree.

“The idea that a loved one’s consciousness could be preserved is very seductive,” says Producer Broderick Johnson. “The idea that a loved one could be uploaded into a computer and you could then continue that relationship beyond its physical form was the heart of the film for me.”

Johnny Depp finds the idea of singularity very fascinating.

“A simple guy who adores his wife and does the crossword puzzle every morning, is able to take his expertise to the point where ego, power and passion could ultimately evolve him into something of a mechanical god.”

Rebecca Hall’s character, research scientist Evelyn, is embroiled, and loses her objectivity in the film. “How much can we merge with technology and still remain human?, ” she asks.

Toward the end of Transcendence, Paul Bettany’s character, research scientist Max Waters, becomes the voice of reason.

“I really liked that at the center of this story about our dependence on technology and computers and the potential benefits and repercussions of that, was this really complicated relationship between these three best friends,” he says.

Undoubtedly, the film’s cast and crew have started an interesting dialogue that might just ‘transcend’ the appeal of Transcendence.

Past Beau Behan Reviews/Features on Patch:

• Video Interview: Nick Frost On Being ‘Cuban Fury’
• Video Movie Review: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Noah’
• Video Movie Review: ‘Divergent’
• Movie Review: ‘Non-Stop’

Beau Behan’s claim to fame is that his last name being the same as that of the Irish novelist, Brendan Behan. He sees himself as a romantic Rudolph Valentino type, but realizes you probably don’t. As a film critic, his work has been featured in NBC Bay Area, NBC News and Boston Globe, and can be seen on the TV show, “Beau’s Flicks & Nix,” on the Comcast Hometown Network, in Northern California. A “Flick” is a movie, and a “Nix” is just an opinion, nothing more. ( BeauBehan.com )