28 Sep The Creator Review

THE CREATOR

dir. Gareth Edwards, starring John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan, et. al

As a future war between the human race and artificial intelligence rages on, ex-special forces agent Joshua is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI. The Creator has developed a mysterious weapon that has the power to end the war and all of mankind. As Joshua and his team of elite operatives venture into enemy-occupied territory, they soon discover the world-ending weapon is actually an AI in the form of a young child.

It’s unfortunate to say that John David Washington may very well be the element that holds this movie back from being its best possible version. While there isn’t much charm to the character of Joshua, better actors have taken equally loveless characters and imbued them with a certain je ne sais quoi to enchant audiences into rooting for them. It’s Washington’s apparent lack of chemistry (an issue he’s had with a number of actresses he’s been paired with thus far) with Gemma Chan’s Maya that’s the biggest hurdle to leap; Joshua’s driving narrative thrust is marred by Washington’s inability to meet Chan’s effortless allure. His ability to pull off the action and stunts better suit his rather limited talents, enough to pull off a convincing former military operative.

By contrast, Madeleine Yuna Voyles as Alphie, the heart of the story, steals almost every scene she’s paired with Washington. As the weapon designed to end the war against humanity, Alphie is the most human character in the film due largely in part to Voyles’ efforts. With her ability to convey a range of emotion, from distraught to indifferent to exalted, her journey throughout the movie’s runtime is the throughline that viewers will adhere to emotionally.

Also starring Gemma Chan in fits and spurts, the actress has made a name for herself in the realm of science fiction. With her limited screentime (Maya is more an object that Joshua moves towards to rather than a fleshed out character completing a narrative arc), Chan still manages to create an interesting charater that’s unfortunately robbed of any ability to be truly captivating.

The Creator is writer/director Gareth Edward’s first film since 2016’s beloved Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Thanks to a troubled shoot, followed by a round of highly publicized reshoots, Edwards has since been plagued of rumors of interference (both by the studio and Rogue One’s screenwriter Tony Gilroy) and whispers that the final product was wrested away from him. With The Creator, Edwards has a clear and confident vision, taking the well-mined trope of the reluctant hero and managing to find the last few nuggets of ore contained within. At 133 minutes, Edwards moves the story at a brisk clip, filling in viewers on pertinent bits of history in clever ways that don’t feel like exposition dumps. With outstanding action scenes, gorgeous camera work from sci-fi legend Greig Fraser and Oren Soffer, and a pounding score thanks to Hans Zimmer, Edwards has a composed a crew of veteran filmmakers at the height of their powers to create a story that thrills, engages, and admonishes the current trajectory of technology.

Overall, The Creator is a fine piece of science fiction. A timely offering brushing up against the real world looming presence of artificial intelligence, Edwards’ glimpse into a dystopian future is frightening to ponder while also providing a seed of hope that is testament to humanity’s resilience and fighting spirit. While John David Washington is serviceable in his role, it’s Madeleine Yuna Voyles’ innocence and charisma that’s on full display, with a performance that invites the audience to immediately root for her survival. Visually impressive, the practical work on display in a genre that’s become known for its heavy reliance on computer generated effects lends a realism to the story, with that realism in turn helping to drive the urgency of Joshua and Alphie’s journey. In all, the film serves to remind audience of what science fiction in its purest form can be: a reflection of humanity that can both entertain and caution that man not attempt to outgrasp its reach. The Creator is currently in theaters.

Review by Darryl Mansel