nebmac

The first couple of minutes might be reminiscent of scenes from a video game, but don't be fooled - this is no lightweight shoot-'em-up flick. The main character is a military pilot sent to bomb a city where a longtime foe is supposedly making weapons of mass destruction. After the mission goes wrong, she is forced to choose between sacrificing herself and surrendering to enemy forces, one of whom makes radio contact and insists that they mean her no harm.

There is a very small number of plausible outcomes to the situation, and the film's biggest strength is its ability to keep the viewer guessing until the last possible moment. The denouement, handled with just the right amount of emotion, provides a satisfying conclusion.

Not gonna lie...Nana Visitor is pretty much the only reason I was interested in this film. That said, "Friends of Sophia" offers much more than just the opportunity to see Major Kira go full Cardassian.

Visitor leads an outstanding ensemble cast in a series of intertwining tales set in a Blade Runner-esque future where humans and robots live side by side, yet "robosexuality" is a crime. The world-building is extraordinary, thanks in no small part to production values on par with mainstream big-budget projects. A coherent, well-paced plot also helps. There are a few scenes that may not be suitable for children or anyone turned off by big-breasted women or two dudes kissing.

The year is 2058 and everyone has a personal Alexa-like AI implanted in their head. Unfortunately for the 17-year-old protagonist, future Alexa seems to be selectively stupid when it comes to understanding human emotions, subtly peer-pressuring her into running off to meet her boyfriend in a dark alley against her mother's express wishes. What could possibly go wrong?

Some viewers may be unsettled by the portrayal of the violent event at the center of the plot (this is not a spoiler as it's clearly spelled out in the synopsis). What I found more unsettling is that ultimately, the violence seems...for lack of a better word, gratuitous. Sure, there is a hint of an underlying message about the ways AI can alter our interpretation of reality or whatever, but it feels too vague and undefined to justify the trauma inflicted on the main character.