by Jamil Weeks

With the explosion of artificial intelligence in the tech world, the timing is perfect for a film like the Gareth Edwards-helmed, The Creator, to be released in theaters. Starring John David Washington, an ascending Hollywood star (BlacKKKlansman, Tenet, Malcolm & Marie), The Creator stages a futuristic war between humanity and AI. After a nuclear explosion, humans place the blame solely on AI beings and vow to hunt them down until the threat is eliminated. Washington’s character, Joshua, is recruited by the government to help hunt down a menacing AI weapon. However, things take a turn for the worse and Joshua soon finds himself on the other side, becoming the hunted. People worry of an AI takeover, rather it be jobs or even a war. The movie feeds into this sort of paranoia of what role AI will play in our future. The face of AI in this movie is Madeleine Yuna-Voyles, who makes her acting debut as Alphie. Alphie becomes the focal point of the plot’s existential crisis concerning whether or not she is a genuine danger to humanity.

Where the film excels is with the two leading stars. The chemistry that ultimately develops between their characters is the heart of the film. Sent on a mission to eliminate Alphie, Joshua pivots and becomes her protector as he uses Alphie for his own agenda. Along the way he gradually comes to the realization that these AI entities are more than just programmed machines. Joshua eventually acknowledges the emotions, dreams, and hopes of their existence. The nature of their relationship transforms the pair from being enemies to having an almost father/daughter dynamic. Their budding connection pays off in the third act when the war scenes between the humans and AI reach a crescendo with both of their lives dangling in the balance. Washington is at his best in the more emotional scenes in the film as you completely buy in to the bond forged between Joshua and Alphie.

Other notable performances in the movie come from Ken Watanabe as the AI soldier Harun, Gemma Chan as Joshua’s love interest, Maya, and Allison Janney as the villainous Colonel Howell. Harun’s bravery as Maya’s loyal protector helps Joshua understand that these AI beings have a soul, bringing Joshua's character arc full circle. Watanabe delivers a powerful and heartfelt performance as Harun that adds credibility to the film. Maya is Joshua’s wife who serves as the chief human ally to the AI race. Although Chan’s scenes as Maya are limited, Chan makes the most of every scene she is in. You feel the depth of the love Maya and Joshua have for each other, which becomes the catalyst for Joshua’s motivation in the story. Janney, as the relentless Colonel Howell, is everything you want in a villain. An unlikeable character who will resort to any lengths to accomplish her mission. Howell pursues Alphie and Joshua throughout the film in a desperate chase to kill Alphie, who she deems an imminent danger to mankind. The performances from these actors, as well as the lead stars, provide the much-needed emotional gravity to heighten the suspense of the action sequences in the movie.

Gareth Edwards deserves his flowers for The Creator. Best known for his work as the director of 2014’s Godzilla and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Edwards managed to build a realistic futuristic world on a limited budget. Flaunting superior CGI effects than most $200 million plus movie productions, one cannot help but be in awe at how lifelike the AI robots and future societies look in The Creator. Edwards proves he is a master at the technical visuals in each frame, giving the audience a visceral movie experience. You are in that world during the two hour and 15-minute runtime. The eye-popping optics in each scene only amplifies the story. When you place a film like The Creator in the hands of a filmmaker who has a background in writing, cinematography, and visual effects, the results prove to be magical. With a less capable director, the movie could have easily turned into a clichéd, generic sci-fi movie. Despite the many influences this film draws from, Edwards’ signature touch on the story and characters manages to offer moviegoers a unique visual experience.

The Creator does have a couple of drawbacks. Where the film falters a bit is in the storytelling. Edwards, to flesh out some of the main characters, resorts to brief, Christopher Nolan-style flashbacks as Joshua goes on the run with Alphie. These flashbacks happen randomly on occasion, so it becomes confusing rather you are watching a scene in the present or watching a moment in the character’s past. Speaking of fleshing out, the film could have devoted a little more time to some of the key characters. A knit pick of a criticism, but sometimes films do benefit from a longer runtime if it will be beneficial to the story, especially in the case of Maya. Maya is such an integral part of the story. The film would have benefited from more scenes with her and Joshua as you can feel the kinetic vibes between Chan and Washington in the few scenes they have together.

As great of a movie that Edwards gave us, it is a shame this movie did not do better at the box office. Great films are movies that make you laugh, cry, think, and keep you on the edge of your seat. The Creator is an action-packed, visually stunning masterpiece with heart. The movie is still in theaters, so it is not too late to go support this film. A film that can be enjoyed by the whole family, as well as appreciated by the casual moviegoer and cinephile alike. The movie has action, adventure, science fiction, and drama that entertains you with subtle undertones of social messages about our society that are not overdone at the expense of the story. I highly recommend The Creator as one of 2023’s most underrated and underappreciated films.