Automata (2014)

Jacq Vaucan is an insurance agent of ROC robotics corporation who investigates cases of robots violating their primary protocols against altering themselves. What he discovers will have profound consequences for the future of humanity.

Director:

Gabe Ibáñez

Writers:

Gabe Ibáñez, Igor Legarreta

Stars:

Antonio Banderas, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Dylan McDermott

6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Antonio Banderas	...	Jacq Vaucan
Dylan McDermott	...	Sean Wallace
Melanie Griffith	...	Duprè
Birgitte Hjort Sørensen	...	Rachel Vaucan
Robert Forster	...	Robert Bold
Tim McInnerny	...	Vernon Conway
David Ryall	...	Dominic Hawk
Javier Bardem	...	Blue Robot (voice)
Boris Kabakchiev	...	Boy #3
Lyubomir Neikov	...	Poot
Krasimir Kutsurapov	...	Palance
Anton Lamrev	...	Unknown Boy
Geraldine Somerville	...	Samantha
Harry Anichkin	...	Clift
Stanislav Pishtalov	...	Lance

Storyline

In 2044, solar storms have killed 99.7 % of the world's population and only 21 million people survive. The ROC Corporation has designed and built robots called Automata Pilgrim 7000 to help to rebuild the world. These robots have two security protocols; they can neither harm humans nor alter themselves or other robots. When police officer Sean Wallace shoots a robot and claims that it was altering itself, ROC insurance agent Jacq Vaucan is placed in charge of the investigation. Soon he believes that there is a "clocksmith" illegally modifying the robots. Jacq wants to live in the coast and asks his boss and friend Robert Bold to transfer him with his pregnant wife Rachel Vaucan to the coast. Robert offers the possibility if Jacq resolves the case. Jacq and Wallace go to a brothel where the modified robot Cleo attends and Wallace shoots its leg, expecting that the owner will lead them to the clocksmith. They meet Duprè but she is not the clocksmith that is modifying the robots. Soon ...

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Plot Keywords:

robot | future | dystopia | child hitman | self repair | 

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Taglines:

Your time is coming to an end. Ours is now beginning.

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language and some sexual content

Details

Country:

Spain Bulgaria

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 2014 (Bulgaria)

Also Known As:

Automata

Filming Locations:

New Boyana Film Studios, Sofia, Bulgaria

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Green Moon, Nu Boyana Viburno

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Reunites Antonio Banderas with Melanie Griffith after Two Much (1995). Though they work together in Crazy in Alabama (1999), Banderas was director, not actor, therefore they didn't share a scene. Banderas and Griffith fell in love on the set of Two Much, marrying in 1996 until their divorce in 2015.

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Goofs

When we first see a shot of the Police cruiser in the opening sequence, there's a neon light in the car (turned on) yet when we see inside the car there's no light and if there was its not turned on.

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Quotes

Muniesa the Technician: The Pilgrims were born to help us in our heroic quest for survival. Now they build our homes, drive our cars, and wipe our asses when we get old. I have no idea what we're going to do next.

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Crazy Credits

Under 'special thanks' in the credits, "power-horse" energy drink is listed

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Soundtracks

Old Times
Written by Paul Ross Thomson, Jacques Mathias Oliviera
Published by Cavendish Music Co., Ltd. (PRS)
Courtesy of 5 Alarm Music

User Reviews

An Asimov Robot Dystopia

9 of 10. This will remind you of Blade Runner in a harsher, still Earth-based world, testing out how a variation on Asimov's I, Robot rules can both work and be circumvented.

Because it doesn't extend technology as far beyond the present day, it has a more realistic feel to it. It also helps that it integrates everyday big-business into the plot. You can see the influence of not only Blade Runner, but Fight Club and Wall-E.

This could be a non-animated, adult prequel to Wall-E. It lacks the more technical, advanced cyberpunk of the Ghost in the Shell films, which like Blade Runner, seem a lot less dystopic relative to Automata.

Where this lacks is in the acting/casting along with the storyline originality, but never enough to get in the way of the story as a whole. Like any great story, you only wish it had been longer revealed more of the world it takes place in.