Extra Cinema: Transcendence (15)

Undated Film Still Handout from Transcendence. Pictured: REBECCA HALL as Evelyn Caster, JOHNNY DEPP as Will Caster and PAUL BETTANY as Max Waters. See PA Feature FILM Film Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Entertainment Film. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FILM Film Reviews.

Starring: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Morgan Freeman

Director: Wally Pfister

Man’s relationship with technology takes a sinister turn in Wally Pfister’s sci-fi thriller based on a screenplay by Jack Paglen.

Dr Will Caster (Depp) is one of the pioneers in the field of artificial intelligence research and he strives to create a machine with sentience, aided by his wife and fellow academic, Evelyn (Hall), and best friend Max (Bettany).

Some in the scientific community, including Evelyn and Max, question the wisdom of Will’s idealistic goals.

Extremists shoot Will with radioactive bullets that slowly poison him.

He then takes the bold decision to upload his mind into a computer in the hope that his consciousness look for the medical knowledge to perform a miracle.

Instead, Will’s digital self becomes power-hungry and he embarks on a quest to take over the world. FBI agent Donald Buchanan (Cillian Murphy) and his team join forces with Evelyn and Max to avert disaster and destroy Will if necessary.