Automata (2014)

Human race is at edge of the end. Robot race is at edge of the beginning.

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

2044. The climate change and a series of solar storms have turned in a desert the surface of the planet and annihilated to the 99.7 % of Earth's population, leaving alive 21 million people across the world in a single city covered by mechanical clouds (zeppelins anchored to the city) to make rain. Trying to rebuild the world again, a robot company named ROC Corporation create Automata Pilgrim 7000 with two security protocols: 1st, a robot cannot harm human beings, and 2nd, a robot cannot alter himself or another robot. But this situation changes when police officer Sean Wallace shoots and destroys a robot claiming that it was altering himself. With the company worried by the possible implications if the case were known by the people, insurance agent Jacq Vaucan is chose to investigate the happened, while Vaucan tries to convince his boss, friend and brother-in-law Robert Bold to transfer him and his pregnant wife Rachel to the coast, with Bold accepting the request if Vaucan solves ...

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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 | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language and some sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

The word "Automata" is a plural of "Automaton" which comes from the Greek word "Automatos" meaning "self-acting" or "acting on its own", which was in use as early as ancient Greece. Modern words like "Automatic" (in use since 18-th century) and "Automation" (in use only from 1940's) are of the same origins.

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Goofs

After the car crash in the desert, Cleo has a wig on when the shadows walk up. Cleo lost the wig in the crash.

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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

Bargain Basement
Written by Cyril Watters
Published by Cavendish Music Co., Ltd. (PRS)
Courtesy of 5 Alarm Music

User Reviews

A Blader Runner based on Asimov, rather than Dick, and made by Europeans

I am myself to blame for only looking at IMDb ratings and the occasional movie trailer from the mall screens, but I still can't believe that this is not a movie that everyone is talking about. It's great!

A post apocalyptic movie made by Spain and Bulgaria, it shows an insurance agent (the only people who actually do any motivated detective work :) ) trying to find out what is going on with robots behaving strangely. Two laws are restricting said robots from harming people and from altering any robots and it appears someone has found away around these hardcoded rules.

The film reminded me of Blade Runner, obviously, but it went a slightly different direction, more akin to Sector 9. The gruesomeness of the dirty city and the violent slums outside it is clear and uncompromising - think Brazil meets Cidade de Deus. The acting is good, slightly overemotional in the case of Antonio Banderas - but he is Spanish, so we understand, and completely balanced by the coolness of the Blue Robot (Javier Bardem, lol). I couldn't really find a problem with the direction and the script was great!

So, bottom line: a wonderful film. It shows that it is not the highest budget movie in the world, but it more than compensates through story, details, acting and even casting. I thought McDermott's character was a very good one to explain the overall attitude of humans towards robots and it felt like they could have added some more to it. If you liked Blade Runner you will love this movie! See how a little European vision can change how a movie feels to you.

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)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,237,990

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