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:

Bulgaria USA Spain Canada

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

The protagonist's name "Jacq Vaucan" is probably a reference to "Jacques de Vaucanson," an 18th century inventor famous for his creation of intricate clockwork automata.

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Goofs

Dr. Durpre says that self repair implies that machines have a conscience. A better term would be consciousness, as self-repair indicates more of self-awareness of self versus of knowledge of right and wrong.

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Quotes

Title Card: Increased Solar Storms have turned the earth's surface into a radioactive desert and reduced the human population by 99.7% to 21 million people. Atmosphere disturbances have disabled most terrestrial communication systems, pushing civilization to a process of technological regression. In an atmosphere of fear and desperation, ROC Corporation created the Automata Pilgrim 7000's, primitive robots designed to build the walls and mechanical clouds that protect the humans who inhabit the last ...

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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

Messy, Pointless and Boring

In 2044, solar storms have killed 99.7 % of the population of the world 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 and they can neither harm humans nor altering itself or other robot.

When police officer Sean Wallace (Dylan McDermott) shots a robot and claims that it was altering itself, insurance agent of ROC Jacq Vaucan (Antonio Banderas) is 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 (Robert Forster) to transfer him with his pregnant wife Rachel Vaucan (Birgitte Hjort Sørensen) to the coast. Robert offers the possibility since 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 lead them to the clocksmith. They meet Duprè (Melanie Griffith) but she is not the clocksmith that is modifying the robots. Soon Jacq discovers who is the responsible for modifying the robots but the Powers that Be in ROC believe that Jacq is the one to be blamed.

"Autómata" is a messy, pointless and boring sci-fi that in an environment of "Blade Runner" and "Hardware". The plot has a promising beginning with a dystopic futuristic society, but becomes tedious going nowhere with unpleasant one-dimension characters. The ROC Corporation looks like a mafia and not a high tech company. The music score is completely inadequate for the movie. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "Agente do Futuro" ("Agent from the Future")