Haradon first started conceiving his ideas for The Incorporeal Man back in 2008, including storyboards. So this movie isn’t just something that sprang up when two AIs hiccuped at the same time—it is a narrative feature in long-term development that uses the current AI technology to come to fruition.
It is this technology that makes up both the film’s greatest strengths and weaknesses. In terms of creating something that passes for a regular movie, AI is still not ready for primetime. Lips don’t always move, the proportions constantly change drastically in frame, print lettering devolves into those AI pseudo-Russian-like characters, and faces get all squiggly at distances.
There is a chronic lack of consistency with basic actions being represented in any sort of realistic fashion, with relentless clumsiness breaking any verisimilitude. It also immediately comes off as something that AI was used in, which has become a badge of cheapness. This knee-jerk reaction to AI production quality will steer many viewers away.
“This knee-jerk reaction to AI production quality will steer many viewers away.”
That would be too bad, because The Incorporeal Man is actually one of the more intriguing movies in the superhero genre. Haradon gives us the closest thing to what a superhero movie written by Bukowski would have looked like. The script is just like one of that poet’s short stories, with drunks and losers in flophouses having to work literal s**t jobs to just hang on.
The pacing drags like a flat tire through the second act, but then Haradon works the plot line into some very dark and accurate reflections on how our self-image sometimes doesn’t match our actions. The third act is very exciting and imaginative, as well as having enough gross-out to make it worth our while. The Incorporeal Man isn’t the future of AI filmmaking, but it will definitely be one of the notable examples in its past. Fans of Tim and Eric will like it, as this is way stranger and less irritating than the Tim and Eric feature movie.
"… the closest thing to what a superhero movie written by Bukowski would have looked like."
Platforming something as lifeless and incompatible to art like A.I is crazy.
I guess yall need something to keep the lights on at the office.