Spaceman (2016)

Spaceman: Directed by Brett Rapkin. With Josh Duhamel, W. Earl Brown, Ernie Hudson, Winter Ave Zoli. Story of former MLB pitcher Bill ‘Spaceman’ Lee following his release by the Montreal Expos.

“u0026quot;I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.u0026quot; Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eEx Machina is a thoughtful science fiction about Artificial Intelligence, whereby, to no fanu0026#39;s surprise, the current female robot, Ava (Alicia Vikander), has human qualities that cause trouble for inventor, Nathan (Oscar Isaac), and visitor, young Caleb. If you know anything about these stories, you could write the screenplay, but youu0026#39;d need these actors to make it the impressive sci-fi it is. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ePoets and philosophers have been intrigued by just this story about AI gone astray after interacting with humans. The Frankenstein motif is alive and dangerous, and the spirit of Spike Jonzeu0026#39;s Her, with the seductive operating system, is very much a part of Avau0026#39;s approach to Caleb. The destructive force of Nathanu0026#39;s creation is more subtle than in Dr. Frankensteinu0026#39;s creation, but menacing nevertheless: u0026quot;Isnu0026#39;t it strange, to create something that hates you?u0026quot; Ava to Nathanu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBrainy Nathan has a compound somewhere in an Alaskan refuge as modern as could be with ID cards and glass walls and doors to give the impression of peace and transparency. Caleb is chosen to help Nathan use the Turing Test to judge the quality of the AI-human experience.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs in real life, nothing is as it appears because neither Nathan nor Ava can refrain from lying. Yet, even Caleb is drawn into lies as he gets closer, even romantically, yikes! to Ava. Once again for science fiction, as soon as the robot gets to enjoy being like a human, trouble ensues. However, even if this film seems like a retread, say, of Never Let Me Go, very few filmmakers could match the ultra modern, yet still sexy, set design. And Isaacu0026#39;s character is so mercurial, at once comforting then tyrannical, that the film could be remembered if only for his star turn as the mad but charming scientist.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAfter all, Ex Machina is as much about a scientist playing God as it is about the bridge between robot and man. Each topic could, and has been, treated on its own. Here it is an exciting return to modern man as god and monster:u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;I am God.u0026quot; Nathan”