Ryan Shoots First: The Creator

Sci-fi is one of the earliest mediums to tackle AI and the threat it brings. No, I am not talking about iRobot, nope not talking about The Matrix either. I am talking about the original steampunk novels in the early 60’s and 70’s. Pretty much as soon as computers started computing in giant rooms, authors were speculating that someday we would let them do all the thinking for us and it would be our downfall. 

While sci-fi can give us some of the most thought-provoking, and insightful looks at the human condition and our relation to what we can create, it can also be some of the cheapest cash-ins on “new tech panic”. So which is The Creator? Well if not for some of the names attached to it I would have assumed the latter. However when I saw Rogue One director Gareth Edwards directing and the very careful John David Washington (Tenant) as the star I thought there may be something here. Round out the cast with names like Alison Janey and Ken Watanabe and there is a lot to like here. It was my hope the film wouldn’t be just “AI bad, humans dumb” but would look to explore more about our reliance on it and our need to control what we create. But you know with some cool explosions and lasers and stuff. I was very pleased with what I got in The Creator. It takes some very tried and true elements and mixes it all in with the threat of AI and the need for certain folks to wield it for their benefit. 

I love stories where the main character finds they’ve been working for the baddies all along and essentially abandons all they’ve known. Add in the special charisma JDW has and this feels like a nice piece of early fall cinema. Those looking for a big blockbuster action will find some things but may find the film a bit too brainy. Those looking for a rich, deep hard sci-fi tale may find it a bit shallow. But for those looking for that Goldilocks zone right in the middle, this movie finds a nice space to be. 

One aspect you can glean from the trailers is the cinematography and overall aesthetic that is so important to sci-fi. The film does a good job of presenting the two worlds, that of the rich and everyone else. The mix of clean high-tech and gritty ones whose lives don’t look too much different than ours. Gareth brings his style that made Rogue One stand out as a Star Wars film and does the same here. It’s not all steampunk cities and gray walls, there is a nice mix of nature and earthly looks specifically among the good guys. 

I went into The Creator skeptical but trusting the names behind it and I was happy to have my faith rewarded. There are so few films out that are not tied to a preexisting property, or a sequel. Not a ton of original ideas in theaters and I hope to see others take a chance on AI.