We may all like to think that our routine lives, along with our hopes and dreams, give us purpose but what if it was all predetermined? Coming to such a realization would be terrifying. Even more so would be the fact that your existence is made strictly in service to others. This frightening truth would shatter any held reality and is a theme that underlines this series.
As we become accustomed to the beautiful, sprawling Wild West known as ‘Westworld’, we come to understand that there are androids that have programmable narratives that they play out (with minor improvisations) as ‘newcomers’ (humans) make their way through the area – going on adventures (like catching bank robbers) or having sex with prostitutes.
What the showrunners did so cleverly is play with the idea that you don’t know at first if someone is an android or a human being interacting with the world. This was definitely the case when we first see the Gunslinger (Ed Harris) and Teddy Flood (James Marsden) meeting. This also adds to the idea of how sin is embellished by human visitors and their ‘seemingly human’ counterparts.
The added dimension to all of this is the scientists and the company behind Westworld — Delos. They each have a unique take on the androids and the fundamental differences between man and machine. We have Bernard Lowe (the great Jeffrey Wright), who is head of the Programming Division and a most sinister Dr. Robert Ford, the Creative Director of Westworld (Sir Anthony Hopkins). The scientists begin to realize that the most recent update to the androids’ programming has caused strange reactions. Moreover, we come to find out that a slight modification was included by Ford in the update, thereby giving the androids more lifelike actions.
Ed Harris’ gunslinger has a different take on the entire ‘sinful getaway’. He views it as an elaborate game and we see him torture androids in an attempt to get at something hidden. We are not told much else about his end goal but I am most interested in what his character is all about. Did Ford design Westworld with another purpose in mind?
Equally mysterious is Anthony Hopkins’ Creative Director Ford. We see him communicating with an earlier model (Michael Wincott) as they share a drink. What is most telling is how he relates and sees the androids. He’s not engaged with the model he’s interacting with. Later on, his accepted outlook should have been jolted after one of the updated androids is able to recall previous programming and explained that they’ll (the androids) will have revenge on their creators. Ford seems at ease, perhaps because he’s come to expect what he’s witnessing.
Speaking of that, there is an excellent seen where Peter Abernathy (played by Louis Herthum), after finding a photograph of a woman juxtaposed next to a city landscape, is brought in for examination by Bernard, Ford et al. Ford presides over Peter and probes him for answers. The strange thing is Peter begins to make dangerous threats to Ford (and the human race) and that he wishes to “meet his maker”. Ford simply states that Peter is recalling a previous narrative programming where he acted out Shakespeare. What is most creepy is that this android begins to understand that his existence is for the amusement of others. Who wouldn’t be angry with that?
Centered around all of this is android, Delores Abernathy (played by Evan Rachel Wood). We see her live out her daily life doing the exact same things she was programmed to do. It isn’t until her father, Peter (as mentioned above), and after making a recollection of his previous programming, relays to his daughter that “these violent delights have violent ends” (from Shakespeare). A line Peter wouldn’t otherwise know if he wasn’t able to recall a period where he was programmed to be a cannibalistic cult leader who tended to quote Shakespeare.
Delores was also brought in for examination and although she responded to the series of questions with predictable responses, you can tell that she seems slightly bothered by her recent experiences. She even mentions that she would never harm a living and in the next scene we see her kill a fly on her face. This is indicative of her awakening and her likely rebellion as the show continues.
The series is marked by one of the most intriguing premises, brilliant acting, huge and elaborate set pieces and tons of excellent action (some over the top violence – come on, it’s HBO). If you were looking for something to substitute “Game of Thrones”, look no further.
Yes, I know it may be hard to believe that the upcoming TV series, “Westworld”, was actually based upon a film of the same name. Not only that but it was a film that was written and directed by Michael Crichton (that dude that would later write the books “Congo”, “Jurassic Park” and “Lost World”).
Ever since I read that this series was going into production, I was intrigued by its alluring premise — “a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin” (Hollywood Reporter). Everything we’ve seen from the promos until now showcase a sprawling epic take on a lesser known sci-fi/drama.
Outside of the rather obvious 1970s aesthetic, “Westworld” (1973) is most definitely a diamond in the rough. Moreover, the premise itself can provide so many unique themes that are very introspective, especially in relation to where we are as a society – on the verge of artificial intelligence. With “Westworld”, it examines how humans revel in the most seeded desires by living in a world where everything they sense is real but, in fact, is a complete fabrication. You see, ‘Westworld’, is a vacation destination where tourists live a lifestyle they’ve only had in their dreams and a chance to satisfy murderous and sexual desires. This brings about many issues:
-Is it okay to kill a robot that looks and sounds exactly like a human being?
-Is the very idea of such a vacation resort the beginning of the end for society?
-What does it mean to be alive?
-How different are we from these ‘self-aware’ robots?
-How do we define our interactions with these robots (if we can’t tell the difference)? Is it sincere? Is the very concept of things like ‘love’ then elusive?
The film follows two friends (one that’s been to Westworld before and the other a newcomer) as they get acquainted with the Wild West on the verge of the 20th century. What is most off putting in their journey is the eventual realization that their actions will not have consequences. This is the true danger of such a place. Our moral constraints exist for many reasons. When you have a place like Westworld blurring ethical lines, you can’t help but wonder what ‘real life’ consequences would occur after leaving such a sinful destination. Once the two realize the place as a sort of paradise, the paradise turns on them.
The scientists that maintain these robots are slowly beginning to realize that a robot virus is being spread and robots are ‘acting out’ and attacking humans. In addition, it is mentioned that the scientists themselves are not sure why it is occurring since the robots were created by machines. Although this subplot should have been more elaborated on, it is quite a clever way in explaining a more logical way to the actual dawn of artificial intelligence.
The underrated film is also highlighted by strong performances from the great Yul Brynner (“The Ten Commandments”, “The King and I”, “The Magnificent Seven”), James Brolin (“The Amityville Horror”, “Traffic”), and Richard Benjamin (“The Sunshine Boys”). Benjamin’s initial reaction after shooting a robot and bedding a robot prostitute is innocence meeting rapture. This role is essential in portraying the very sinister nature of it all. Brynner has limited lines but his nuanced facial expressions are most effective, especially in relation to the very idea of self-awareness.
With all that being said, I believe HBO has plucked a fairly obscure film to bank on its rich premise. They (creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy) are putting forth a big production to give this the scale it truly deserves and not to mention an amazing cast that includes Sir Anthony Hopkins, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Thandie Newton, Ed Harris and Jeffrey Wright.
Note: The TV series is being composed by Ramin Djawadi who is known for his work on “Game of Thrones”.
2nd note: JJ Abrams (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, “Star Trek”, “Super 8”) is the credited executive producer on the HBO series.
After viewing the original film, I most eagerly await the HBO TV series which drops on Sunday (October 2nd) at 8 PM Central/9 PM Eastern.
Check out the most recent promo below and get excited for Sunday!
I have very high expectations for this upcoming HBO series. The premise of the show sounds most intriguing – a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin. Just as my previous ‘rants’ may have come to suggest about the series, this has all the elements to succeed. Jonathan Nolan (co-writer of “Interstellar”, “Memento”) and Lisa Joy are the show creators with J.J. Abrams (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, “Star Trek”) executive producing.
The upcoming sci-fi drama series looks spectacular and will be a nice substitute while we wait for winter to come on HBO’s smash hit, “Game of Thrones”. Check out the just released trailer below!
The cast includes Sir Anthony Hopkins, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Ed ‘I’m great in just about everything’ Harris, Jeffrey Wright, and Thandie Newton. The HBO series is set to be released on October 2nd. I cannot wait!
The series is actually based upon a 1973 film (that starred Yul Brynner) that was written and directed by Michael Crichton (author of “Jurassic Park”, “Rising Sun”, “Disclosure”). The premise of that film is set in the near future where there is an adult amusement park called Delos, where there are three separate worlds – West World (American Old West), Medieval World (medieval Europe), and Roman World (pre-Christian Pompeii). Each world is populated with life like androids which are programmed for their environment. Park guests are able to pay an admission for an adventure or a sexual encounter (with an android). Things begin to get crazy when these androids begin ‘acting out of place’ and the park creators do not really know how they really work since they were designed by other computers and no one really knows how they work. These androids could be just as complex as humans.
Note: “Westworld” (1973) was followed up with a sequel in 1976 called “Futureworld” and a very short lived TV series in 1980 called “Beyond Westworld”. Source: Pop Culture Crunch, June, 21, 2016
You may have heard rumblings of the upcoming show, “Westworld”, coming to the premium cable network sometime in October. You also may have even seen the teaser trailer (which can be seen below) that was recently released and are just not quite sure what to make of it. Don’t be troubled. You are not the only one. The marketing department would rather play with the angle of keeping the new series a ‘mystery’ in order to bring forth more interest. I’m not sure that’s working out that great. However, if you understand what the essential story is about, you’ll likely want to check it out. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that you have a stellar cast that includes Sir Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, and James Marsden.
The Source Material:
The series is actually based upon a 1973 film (that starred Yul Brynner) that was written and directed by Michael Crichton (author of “Jurassic Park”, “Rising Sun”, “Disclosure”). The premise of that film is set in the near future where there is an adult amusement park called Delos, where there are three separate worlds – West World (American Old West), Medieval World (medieval Europe), and Roman World (pre-Christian Pompeii). Each world is populated with life like androids which are programmed for their environment. Park guests are able to pay an admission for an adventure or a sexual encounter (with an android). Things begin to get crazy when these androids begin ‘acting out of place’ and the park creators do not really know how they really work since they were designed by other computers and no one really knows how they work. These androids could be just as complex as humans.
Note: “Westworld” (1973) was followed up with a sequel in 1976 called “Futureworld” and a very short lived TV series in 1980 called “Beyond Westworld”.
Reasons why you should be excited for the upcoming TV series:
Jonathan Nolan (co-writer on “Memento”, “Interstellar” and “The Dark Knight”) and Lisa Joy are the show creators and will executive produce along with J.J. Abrams (“Star Trek”, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) and Bryan Burk (producer on “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol”, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”).
The series was described in a Hollywood Reporter article in 2014 as a “dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin”. Takeaway:
This sounds a lot like “Total Recall” meets “Blade Runner”. The mysterious marketing for the new series now makes much more sense. Plus, you can bet that they likely modernized the concept from the film. I think this concept is an excellent one to re-visit, especially since not many people are familiar with the source material. I believe we (society) are ready to fully embrace the storyline as we continue to progress into the inevitable dawn of artificial intelligence.
Mad Max: Fury Road – One of the most action packed movies to come out this summer and a real game changer. Sure, people may call out the thin plot but they are missing the point. In a film like this (an all out action/car chase spectacle), the plot does not need to necessarily be drawn out or complex. In fact, in some of the character developing scenes, you felt as if the film came to a crashing halt. Characters speak through their actions gawd dammit!
If you love action and appreciate large spectacle (and a cool looking dystopia future), I highly recommend this movie. Review here.
Also, check out the Honest Trailer for Mad Max: Fury Road by the folks at Screen Junkies. Pretty funny stuff.
I’ll See You in My Dreams – Gwyneth Paltrow’s mom, Blythe Danner, stars in this movie as an aging widow trying to make sense of her life and love as she takes on dating again.
The D Train – A helpless guy named Dan (Jack Black) is the head of the High School Reunion Committee. Upon the 20 year reunion, Dan is having trouble conjuring up any interest in going. After seeing an old classmate in a commercial, he ventures out to see if he’ll attend the reunion — in the hopes that everyone else will too. You can see why you likely never heard of this. It’s been prepped for Direct to Video.
Good Kill – A fighter pilot turned drone pilot fights Taliban terrorists during the day via remote control and begins to question the ethics of his job. Starring Ethan Hawke (Boyhood, Gattaca, Before Sunrise), January Jones (Mad Men), and Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek). Directed by Andrew Niccol (Gattaca, writer of The Truman Show).
Boulevard – This is one of Robin Williams’ last performances as he stars as an older man going through a mid to mid/late life crisis. A man tries to come to grips with how he really feels about his wife. Couldn’t anyone else tell how Robin Williams was feeling by looking at his filmography during the later years of his life? This is another darker film for Williams. Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, Mr. Show) and Kathy Baker co-star.
7 Minutes – Two brothers and a friend attempt to pay back a debt in order to save their lives. They believe they only need 7 minutes to attempt a robbery. Luke Mitchell, Jason Ritter (John Ritter’s son) and Kris Kristofferson (Blade) star.
Face of an Angel – This is supposed to be a fictional re-imagining of the Amanda Knox murder trial. You know, that one girl (and her boyfriend at the time) that was accused of murdering her roommate while in Italy. Kate Beckinsale (Serendipity, Underworld), Daniel Bruhl (Rush) and Cara Delevingne (Paper Towns, upcoming Suicide Squad) star.
September 8th
The Age of Adaline – A lady finds herself in a car accident and comes to the realization that she can no longer age. Man, even romantic dramas are copying off the notion of Highlander. For some reason, Blake Lively’s character believes she must not tell anyone about her secret. That is, until she falls in love. Pass!
American Heist – The post Star Wars career of Hayden Christensen is down right embarrassing (you could also say the same for Oscar Winner Adrien Brody). He recently starred in a forgotten movie with Nicolas Cage called Outcast (at least I remember it!) that was soon in the Video on Demand section. The generic title of this movie matches the generic story. Two brothers with a troubled past try to go ‘legit’ but they have to pull off a seemingly impossible bank heist. Adrien Brody (The Pianist) and Jordana Brewster (Fast and Furious) co-star.
September 15th
Furious 7 – You better get ‘revved’ up for this high octane sequel. Insane amounts of action and a bevy of stars kick this summer blockbuster into high gear. Race car puns!
“You almost had me? You never had me! Ya never had ya car!” – Dom Toretto in The Fast and the Furious
Cinderella – Lily James stars as the titular character in this go around from director Kenneth Branagh (Thor, Sleuth). The film co-stars Cate Blanchett (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) and Helena Bonham Carter (most every Tim Burton movie as of late, Harry Potter films).
Monkey Kingdom – This documentary chronicles a family of monkeys as they yearn to climb up the social ranks of their group just as an invasion of other monkeys changes things. Starring monkeys.
Love & Mercy – This drama follows the events in the life of Brian Wilson (Paul Dano), front man of the Beach Boys. More specifically, it chronicles how fame influenced Wilson and the manipulative relationship he had with his therapist. The film also stars John Cusack (Say Anything, Gross Pointe Blank), Paul Giamatti (Sideways, The Illusionist, Straight Outta Compton) and Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games, The Lego Movie).
The Overnight – This comedy is about how a couple and their child, who after moving to L.A., is invited to an overnight play date. Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation, A.C.O.D., Party Down), Taylor Schilling (Orange is the New Black), and Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore, Bored to Death, The Grand Budapest Hotel) star.
Heaven Knows What –This is a drama about a young heroin addict as she roams the streets for her next fix. It doesn’t make thing better when her unstable boyfriend shows up. Although the synopsis doesn’t do anything for me, the critics that have seen this have high praise. Not sure why. They called it a ‘junkie drama’. I just love those!
September 22nd
Pitch Perfect 2 – The acappella group, Barden Bellas, are at it again. This time they are competing against real acappella groups (they weren’t last time?) while also dealing with the eventual end to college and entering the adult world. I don’t do musicals but I have to admit that I enjoyed the first installment and may just give this a chance too. Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Adam DeVine and Brittany Snow return to star.
Saint Laurent – This follows French fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent, as he took the fashion industry by storm in 1967 (at just 30 years old). He was known to ignore social issues at the time and brought more people of color as models. He is responsible for a lot of the clothing still available at stores today. The drama features Gaspard Ulliel (Hannibal Rising), Jeremie Renier, and Lea Seydoux (Blue is the Warmest Color, upcoming Spectre, upcoming Gambit movie).
Results – A recently divorced rich dude decides to become a gym rat. Comedy ensues (supposedly). Guy Pearce (mostly good movies – Prometheus, Memento), Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother, Avengers), Kevin Corrigan (Pineapple Express), and even Anthony Michael Hall (The Breakfast Club) star in this direct to video movie.
September 29th
Spy – Melissa McCarthy is definitely throwing her weight around in this movie! I’m not sure what I meant by that. Look, at first I wasn’t interested in seeing this movie but I just love Jude Law and Jason Statham so you can be sure I’ll at least be renting this. The film revolves around how a CIA agent (McCarthy), that is integral to top missions, is never actually in the field. When an agent’s identity is compromised, she is recruited to get dirty and do some field work.
Poltergeist – Another needless remake. You may know the story already — A family move into a house that was built on a burial ground. The spirits are angry and kidnap the family’s daughter so they can use her as a portal to this world. Just see the original. This remake stars the amazingly talented Sam Rockwell (Moon, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind –why Sam? why!?), Rosemarie DeWitt, and Jared Harris (Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows, Mr. Deeds).
Entourage – This was a fun, little movie but would’ve been better as a TV movie on HBO (review here). It’s the same formula as the 25 minute episode show but drawn out to an hour and a half or so. Some funny moments but the story seemed to drag at parts. I will say that it was fun to see with a group of friends. Ya know? There’s a lot to identify with. Adrien Grenier, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Billy Bob Thornton star in this which includes a lot of celebrity cameos.
Cop Car – This is more of an independent film that has an interesting premise. Two boys come across an empty police car and decide to take it for a joy ride. This ends up pissing off a corrupt sheriff (Kevin Bacon) and turns the story into a cat and mouse game. The film has received a good amount of praise — Rotten Tomatoes: 77%.
Aloft – A mother and son are separated after an accident. The mother becomes a famous artist and the son masters the art of falconry. They are brought together by a journalist and end up realizing what it means to be alive. The film stars the beautiful Jennifer Connolly (Requiem for a Dream, Labyrinth, A Beautiful Mind), Melanie Laurent (Inglorious Basterds), and Cillian Murphy (Sunshine, 28 Days Later, Batman Begins). Looks a little pretentious but I’m slightly interested.
An American in Hollywood – The story here follows a guy and a group of his friends that move to Hollywood to become ‘real artists’ (instead of fake ones). A young actress ends up complicating things. Starring no one you’ve likely heard of — J.D. Williams, Hassan Johnson and Anil Raman.
Return to Sender – A nurse named Miranda (Rosamund Pike) is living a pleasant life until she has a date with a man named Kevin that leads to her being raped. Eventually, Kevin is captured although Miranda would still like to know why she was attacked. Miranda tries to maintain contact with her assailant to know why he did what he did. *Sounds like a Lifetime Movie. The movie co-stars Rumer Willis (Bruce Willis’ daughter) and crazy Nick Nolte.
The Slap – At a birthday party, a kid kicks one of the guests (Peter Sarsgaard) in the leg which results in him slapping the kid. This causes a whirlwind of problems, including a police investigation. This is another drama that I wouldn’t be surprised if it lands on the Lifetime Network (I’d slap myself for seeing this). The all star cast includes Melissa George, Brian Cox, Zachary Quinto, Uma Thurman and Thandie Newton.
Unexpected – Cobie Smulders stars as a teacher who gets pregnant who must consider exchanging her career for motherhood. Yawn!
Selma – Oscar nominated for Best Picture, this tale follows Dr. Martin Luther King’s struggle while fighting for civil rights. It’s a good film with great performances. Not much else to write home about.
Mr. Turner – A genius artist (Timothy Spall — one of the dudes from Harry Potter series) has trouble being understood and loves sexually exploiting his housekeeper and frequents brothels. What is this movie?
The Pyramid – A team of archaeologists uncover a pyramid in the Egyptian desert. They get lost in the catacombs of the structure and become hunted and stuff. I don’t like pyramid schemes!
Lost River – In Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut, it gets all weird when a mother is driven into a dark world whereas her son discovers an underwater town. The cinematography for this movie looks gorgeous but I’m sure this movie will only appeal to the die hard art house film addicts. So, I’ll be sure to check this out.
Black Sea – This movie came out in theaters at a strange time. It follows how a naval officer (Jude Law) forms a diverse shipping crew to search for sunken Nazi U-boat rumored to contain a large amount of gold. Greed ends up dividing the crew. The film is directed by Kevin MacDonald, of The Last King of Scotland and State of Play. Yes, please.
Miss Julie – Jessica Chastain plays an aristocratic heir that seduces her father’s valet, Colin Farrell. In a forbidden affair, the couple tries to make a future for themselves. Yawn!!!!
Superfast – This is a parody of the Fast and Furious series. You should question yourself as a human being if you paid/will pay money to see this. From the creators of Meet the Spartans and The Starving Games!
May 8th
Fifty Shades of Grey – A college student interviews businessman Mr. Grey and is eventually thrusted into a world of bondage and S & M. We’ll be getting two more sequels — Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Free. Lady porn is becoming more and more prevalent at cinemas.
May 12
Still Alice – super talented actress, Julianne Moore, stars as a college professor coming to terms with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. She won an Oscar for Best Actress in this role.
Mortdecai – A once charismatic Johnny Depp plays a charismatic art thief/dealer that is pulled into a mission to find a Goya painting so that he can continue to have a lush lifestyle. If Depp keeps this up he may soon rival Eddie Murphy in box office flops.
Blackhat – The FBI works with China in going after cyber terrorists. They recruit the forever cool Chris Hemsworth along the way. Director Michael Mann’s (Heat, The Insider) latest has audiences disinterested in his ‘hacking’ film.
The Cobbler – Another forgettable Adam Sandler movie where he plays a shoe repairman questioning his existence. He is then given the chance to walk in other people’s shoes. I wish Adam Sandler would start questioning his own movies.
May 19th
American Sniper – This controversial, yet solid film follows the true story of Chris Kyle’s journey as a sniper with the Navy SEALs. Bradley Cooper plays the deadliest sniper while on his multiple tours in Iraq. The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture and was directed by Clint Eastwood.
Hot Tub Time Machine 2 – The sequel to a mildly successful, critically mixed first installment. This time the gang (sans John Cusack) tries to prevent a death by going back in time but instead end up 10 years in the future.
Cymbeline – This is from Shakespeare’s late work of innocence lost and jealousy avenged. A drug lord, Cymbeline, tries to keep his life together while battling dirty cops and a biker gang. The all star cast includes Ethan Hawke, Ed Harris, Milla Jovovich, and Dakota Johnson. Meh…
What We Do in the Shadows – In this horror comedy, starring Jermaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords), three vampire roommates try to avoid the sun in New Zealand. This looks very interesting. The film is also directed by Jermaine Clement, so I’m expecting the same humor from the Flight of the Conchords series. This looks brilliant!
May 26th
The Seventh Son – Jeff Bridges continues to make terrible movies ever since his well received film, Crazy Heart, in 2009. In this turd, Bridges plays a sorcerer who has to train his apprentice in days in order to once again defeat the witch, played by Julianne Moore. I cannot keep up with all of these failed ‘supernatural/wizard/dragon/witch’ movies. This reminds me of Nicolas Cage’s similar looking movies — The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Season of the Witch.
The Loft – Five dudes rent out a loft to have affairs in. This all goes according to plan until a dead woman turns up at the apartment leaving the group of friends to find which one of them is the killer. Karl Urban and James Marsden star in this movie that you’ll likely never watch on a first date.
Cut Bank – Liam Hemsworth stars as a football star that wants to leave his rural life behind but in doing so will set up a series of events that will change his life forever. Teresa Palmer, Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Dern and John Malkovich co-star in a movie that somehow forgot to do any marketing for itself.
Pop Culture Crunch 