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Johnny Depp

Rebecca Hall

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Kate Mara

Cole Hauser

Morgan Freeman

Clifton Collins Jr.

Cory Hardrict

Falk Hentschel

Josh Stewart

Luce Rains

Fernando Chien

Steven Liu

Xander Berkeley

Lukas Haas

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James Burnett

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Olivia Taylor Dudley

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Richard Daniel Williams

Zack Carpenter

Christina Lancellotti

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Jaime Powers

Lyn Quinn

Kendra Tuthill

Darrick Hurst

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Elon Musk

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Tureygua Inaru

Emma Thomas

Andrew A. Kosove

Wally Pfister

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Jack Paglen

Christopher Nolan

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Marisa Polvino

Broderick Johnson

Chris Seagers

Jess Hall

Scott Robertson

Susan McNamara

Jan Foster

Jonas Spaccarotelli

P. Scott Sakamoto

Philip Shanahan

Brad Arensman

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Candice D. Campos

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Candice Muriedas

Richard K. Buoen

Victor James Martinez

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Timothy M. Earls

Ricardo Guillermo

Mallorie McConnell

Grant Samson

Bjarne Sletteland

Jerome Brett Fairchild

Gene Serdena

Luisa Abel

Richard L. Anderson

Siobhan Roome

John Papsidera

Tom Frohling

Jeff Julian

Doug Shamburger

Darrin Prescott

Laurel Frushour

Mike Chambers

Lori A. Balton

Justin Ferk

Sylvain Lasseur

Jo Edna Boldin

Corey Bronson

Denny Caira

Erich Stratmann

Wade Allen

Clint Wallace

George L. Little

Susannah Carradine

Sandra Fox

Goro Koyama

Mark Mangini

Tim Walston

Nathan McGuinness

James Waitkus

Robert Q. Mathews

Scott R. Fisher

Paul B. Roberts

Al Goto

Joe Bucaro III

Brian N. Bentley

James Logan

Ed Duran

Jeremy Fry

Chris Donaldson

Mark Brooks

Bobby Burns

Kevin Derr

Dean Bailey

Bryant Burnett

Lexi Dali

Bryan Friday

Tait Fletcher

Craig Baxley Jr.

Matthew Lee Christmas

Mickey Giacomazzi

Matt Baker

Jonathan Arthur

Gary Dionne

Marilyn Giacomazzi

Laurence Chavez

Keith Jardine

Ryan Hanna

Joshua Gomez

Mark Rayner

Trina Siopy

Dana Hee

Kris Giacomazzi

flat as empty paper

When the FBI guy (Cillian Murphy) gives a clueless monologue for the first time, I wondered whether that was a potshot. The second time, it became clear the writer has no clue what he's writing about. No, the blender meme wasn't about Luddism. 
Plots involving AIs have been around for decades, and they always require a good amount of suspension of disbelief. But they should never be stupid. (Nor should the AIs.) Here, both are.

There is no depth to the story, no suspense, no unexpected developments either. These topics - AI, Nanites, Dr. Frankenstein improving the world - has been written about competently, oftentimes. A good copy would've done. When this script tries to be deep, philosophical even, it fails.

But that's not the worst of it. 

The only actor to get to express some (some!) emotional range and depth is Rebecca Hall in her role as Eveyln Caster. The other actors, good as they are, have very little to work with - all the characters are flat and schematic. The partner: loving. The concerned friend: despairing. The father figure: caring. The terrorists: self-righteous. The FBI: sober. The townspeople: stupid hicks. And so on.

The obvious questions don't get asked, the less obvious - hey, the AI and a number of characters are supposed to be highly intelligent! - aren't asked either. And so the movie plods along to its expected end.

Even acclaimed actors have a hard time to breathe life and sense in a papier mâché puppet.

"Transcendence" (2014) is another WOMBAT: Waste Of Money, Brains, And Time.
Don't waste yours.

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Transcendence

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Cast

Johnny Depp

Rebecca Hall

Paul Bettany

Cillian Murphy

Kate Mara

Cole Hauser

Morgan Freeman

Clifton Collins Jr.

Cory Hardrict

Falk Hentschel

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