We saw Atlas, the Netflix sci-fi action starring Jennifer Lopez as a brilliant Data Analyst. This is the review.
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| Image Credit: Netflix |
Atlas, available on Netflix starting May 24th, was produced by Jennifer Lopez herself and directed by Brad Peyton. The screenplay was co-written by Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite. The film is a co-production of Netflix, Safehouse Pictures, ASAP Entertainment, Nuyorican Productions, and Berlanti-Schechter Films. The cast includes Jennifer Lopez, Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, Mark Strong, and Lana Parrilla. The film follows Atlas Shepherd (Jennifer Lopez), a genius data analyst who, due to her sad past, has a deep distrust of Artificial Intelligence, but when the dramatic need to capture an evil rogue robot named Harlan (Simu Liu) falls, the woman will absolutely have to trust Smith, an intelligent software that manages a powerful and advanced Mecha.
Atlas, the plot
Let's start by saying that Atlas is yet another film that explores a potential future in which Artificial Intelligence could turn into a danger to humanity: “Terminator Docet“. Examples in which these problems are deeply eviscerated are found first and foremost in 2001 A Space Odyssey, where the super calculator HAL 9000, due to a malfunction, becomes unreliable. Another notable example is certainly Alex Garland's film entitled Ex Machina, or the more recent The Creator by Gareth Edwards.
The film with J.Lo certainly does not bring anything new and is certainly destined to end up forgotten, that is, in that part of our mind in which trivial or irrelevant facts or circumstances are archived and therefore forgotten, but not for this is not worth seeing! Brad Peyton, and the two screenwriters Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite, have certainly not created a cult but they have contributed to making Atlas smooth, fun, and visually quite satisfying, basically: two hours of pure escape!
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| Image Credit: Netflix |
The pace is discreet and the many action scenes are effectively executed, an area in which Jennifer Lopez knows how to move quite well. It is also good how the growing relationship of trust/symbiosis between Smith and Atlas is developed. The relationship between the evolved Mecha and the Analyst is undoubtedly the best part of the film: Atlas is irritable and sarcastic and Smith, thanks to her intelligent adaptability, soon becomes exactly like her battle partner. The resulting jokes and dialogue are funny and enjoyable. Their inevitable friendship is touching; it's almost worth watching the entire film just for this relationship which, towards the conclusion, can be empathetic and emotional.
Conclusion
Atlas is certainly not a masterpiece, it does not deeply explore the serious risks and complex moral and ethical implications that can derive from the abuse of the Artificial Intelligence tool, but it knows how to hold the viewer admirably, for around 120 minutes.
Suitable for those who love science fiction and for those who want to spend some time in complete relaxation.