Transcendence

Name: Transcendence
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: April 17, 2014
Duration: 119 min
Rating: 42
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Johnny Depp, Morgan Freeman, Rebecca Hall

2014

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 45 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 407 Ratings

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6.0

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6.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 407 Ratings

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Transcendence

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: April 17, 2014 | PG-13

Starring: Cillian Murphy, Johnny Depp, Morgan Freeman, Rebecca Hall

Summary: Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is the foremost researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence, working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions. His highly controversial experiments have made him famous, but they have also made him the primeDr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is the foremost researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence, working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions. His highly controversial experiments have made him famous, but they have also made him the prime target of anti-technology extremists who will do whatever it takes to stop him. However, in their attempt to destroy Will, they inadvertently become the catalyst for him to succeed—to be a participant in his own transcendence. For his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and best friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany), both fellow researchers, the question is not if they can, but if they should. Their worst fears are realized as Will’s thirst for knowledge evolves into a seemingly omnipresent quest for power, to what end is unknown. The only thing that is becoming terrifyingly clear is there may be no way to stop him.… Expand

Director: Wally Pfister

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 119 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Richard Roeper

Apr 17, 2014

Transcendence is a bold, beautiful, sometimes confounding flight of futuristic speculation firmly rooted in the potential of today’s technology. Read full review

Steven Rea

Apr 18, 2014

Echoing the lessons learned from "HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey," the message of Transcendence is that computers should not be allowed to become sentient. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Apr 16, 2014

Pfister, who, like his mentor Nolan, adamantly continues to shoot on film (not digital), shows a sure hand at staging scenes, creating visuals and setting a tone -- if only all the diverse elements here fit comfortably under the same tent. Read full review

David Denby

Apr 27, 2014

Transcendence is a muddle; it takes more creative energy than this to catch up to the present. [28 April 2014, p.86]

Joshua Rothkopf

Apr 16, 2014

While Transcendence has tons of money to spend on unpersuasive digital effects and dronelike music, it shows little interest in exploring the potentially tricky benefits of a computer-enhanced intellect; it’s not even in the enjoyable realm of starkly ridiculous Cold War thrillers like "Colossus: The Forbin" Project. Read full review

Dana Stevens

Apr 17, 2014

Transcendence is nowhere near as elegant, witty, or insightful as "Her." Pfister and the screenwriter, Jack Paglen, grapple ponderously, sometimes oafishly, with the ethical and philosophical issues at stake in the film’s premise. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Apr 17, 2014

Ambitious to a fault, this cautionary fantasy about artificial intelligence has so much on its muddled mind, and so little sense of dramatic grounding, that it grows ever more preposterous before lurching to a climax that's utterly unfathomable. Read full review

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User Reviews

josephjacob3232

Apr 19, 2014

I don't understand why everybody is so negative when it comes to Johnny Depp I went into this film with high hopes and it did not disappoint it had what I was looking for a great story with some action and drama as well this film was very interesting to look at with very good visuals andI don't understand why everybody is so negative when it comes to Johnny Depp I went into this film with high hopes and it did not disappoint it had what I was looking for a great story with some action and drama as well this film was very interesting to look at with very good visuals and some top notch actors like Morgan Freeman & Cillan Murphy & Paul Bettany comparing such a film like this to others is just plain wrong I found this movie very good 10 out of 10 and one of the most underrated films I've seen this year.… Expand

19 of 29 users found this helpful1910

The123TKB

May 10, 2014

I just saw this movie without knowing what I was going to expect and, i have to say, i'm now shocked how this had so many bad ratings in various websites and "experts" in movies. This movie is great, is beautiful, is pure genius. At the end of the movie you'll find yourself thinking aboutI just saw this movie without knowing what I was going to expect and, i have to say, i'm now shocked how this had so many bad ratings in various websites and "experts" in movies. This movie is great, is beautiful, is pure genius. At the end of the movie you'll find yourself thinking about everything really. To me, this is more than Oscar material, this could e the movie of my life, only future will decide it.

I believe that there are many negative ratings because most people didn't "understand" it, didn't get the feeling that I got after watching the movie.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DSakaz

Jul 13, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie is terribly underrated. If you come with the mindset that this is another "AI will eliminate humans as the best course to save the planet" movie, you'll be disappointed. The movie does something beautiful that hasn't been done before. An AI that improves life on earth, including human life itself and it exposes that, really, all the world's problems are quite possible to eliminate. It's just human efforts are usually profit driven and never for the greater good of all life.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

dharma

Aug 29, 2014

Great concept, great cast, great cinematography..absolutely flat delivery. Transcendence has a great thing going out for it, but first time director Wally Pfister maybe an Oscar caliber Cinematographer, but he is no Christopher Nolan, his mentor. The film fell flat in many occasions, despiteGreat concept, great cast, great cinematography..absolutely flat delivery. Transcendence has a great thing going out for it, but first time director Wally Pfister maybe an Oscar caliber Cinematographer, but he is no Christopher Nolan, his mentor. The film fell flat in many occasions, despite its intriguing premise and plot points. The pacing is off...when I checked the time, it's only two hours long, but felt like three. It's clearly a missed opportunity. If only Nolan handled this material directly....than this film would came out differently.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DCEdmonds

Nov 13, 2014

"Transcendence" 10 Scale Rating: 5.0 (Mediocre) ...

The Good: It is an interesting concept and is an idea that keeps your interest for the balance of the film. The cast is good and chock full of people (Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Kate Mara, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy) I personally"Transcendence" 10 Scale Rating: 5.0 (Mediocre) ...

The Good: It is an interesting concept and is an idea that keeps your interest for the balance of the film. The cast is good and chock full of people (Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Kate Mara, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy) I personally enjoy watching. Halfway through, the film becomes exceptional and seems to be heading in an amazing direction.

The Bad: Sadly, it all falls apart and becomes somewhat silly. As the lead character "transcends", he becomes capable of things that are more than a little far-fetched. They just went about five steps too far. The ending was also not overly satisfying.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

My_name_is_Khan

Jul 4, 2014

This movie fails to bring any answers to the questions that it barely asks. The ridiculous scale of what Will is able to do completely anihilates the credibility of the movie anyway. If the action scenes were well-filmed, it could have been enjoyable. But they're not. And the movie isThis movie fails to bring any answers to the questions that it barely asks. The ridiculous scale of what Will is able to do completely anihilates the credibility of the movie anyway. If the action scenes were well-filmed, it could have been enjoyable. But they're not. And the movie is globally not inventive for a Science Fiction movie.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Introduce

Jun 15, 2014

A sort of Transcendence did occur
the kind that winds up me cursing
at how lamb Johnny Depp films have been since he had kids.
Can't wait for his plastic enlightenment period to end so the
guy can get his hands dirty, this script was a joke.

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

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49	#49 Most Discussed Movie of 2014
97	#97 Most Shared Movie of 2014