A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001) - Synopsis

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence - synopsis heading

It is a time when natural resources are limited and technology is advancing at an astronomical pace. Where you live is monitored; what you eat is engineered; and the person serving you is not a person at all. It's artificial. Gardening, housekeeping, companionship -- there is a robot for every need. Except love.

Emotion is the last, controversial frontier in robot evolution. Robots are seen as sophisticated appliances; they're not supposed to have feelings. But with so many parents not yet approved to have children, the possibilities abound.

And Cybertronics Manufacturing has created the solution.

His name is David (HALEY JOEL OSMENT).

A robotic boy, the first programmed to love, David is adopted as a test case by a Cybertronics employee (SAM ROBARDS) and his wife (FRANCES O'CONNOR), whose own terminally ill child has been cryogenically frozen until a cure can be found. Though he gradually becomes their child, with all the love and stewardship that entails, a series of unexpected circumstances make this life impossible for David.

Without final acceptance by humans or machines, and armed only with Teddy, his supertoy teddy bear and protector, David embarks on a journey to discover where he truly belongs, uncovering a world in which the line between robot and machine is both terrifyingly vast and profoundly thin.

Warner Bros. Pictures and DreamWorks present an Amblin/Stanley Kubrick production of a Steven Spielberg film, "A. I. " starring Haley Joel Osment (Sixth Sense, the (1999)), Jude Law (Talented Mr. Ripley, the (1999)), Frances O'Connor (Mansfield Park (1999), the upcoming Windtalkers (2001)), Sam Robards (American Beauty (1999)), Brendan Gleeson (Mission Impossible 2 (2000)) and William Hurt (One True Thing (1998)). Directed by Steven Spielberg, "A. I. " is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Steven Spielberg, and Bonnie Curtis.

The screenplay, written by Spielberg, is based on a screen story by Ian Watson and the short story by acclaimed science fiction writer Brian Aldiss. Jan Harlan, Stanley Kubrick's longtime executive producer, and Walter F. Parkes are the executive producers.

The distinguished behind-the-scenes team is led by the highly respected, Oscar-winning cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (Schindler's List (1993)), three-time Oscar-winning editor Michael Kahn (Saving Private Ryan (1998)), Oscar-nominated production designer Rick Carter (Cast Away (2000)) and Oscar-nominated costume designer Bob Ringwood (Empire of the Sun (1987)). Multiple Oscar winner John Williams (Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)) composed the score.

Joining with Spielberg in creating the futuristic worlds of "A. I. " are some of the most celebrated effects artists working today. The creature/makeup effects were created by Stan Winston, whose filmography includes some of the most ambitious and complex effects films of all time. Visual effects visionary Dennis Muren and Scott Farrar of Industrial Light & Magic supervised the film's groundbreaking visual effects. Michael Lantieri coordinated the practical effects. And Christopher Baker provided conceptual art.

The film will be released worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, an AOL Time Warner Company.