Tom Hanks and Robin Wright Turn Back Time with AI Magic in New Movie

Beloved Hollywood filmmaker Robert Zemeckis wants us to recall the good old days, back when his movies weren’t critical flops and commanded hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office. In his new, eras-spanning movie “Here,” the director reunites his “Forrest Gump” co-stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright as if it were still the 90s, with the two actors looking younger than ever. This feel-good looking movie, as it turns out, has a controversial quirk: to make his stars look young again, Zemeckis leveraged AI-assisted de-aging technology – and the results, which if we’re being generous are mixed, come at a time when AI’s use in entertainment is a hot-button issue. In some moments, the AI de-aging looks convincing enough. In others it can be as uncanny as audiences have come to expect from this technology – like someone put Hanks and Wright through a FaceApp setting and called it quits.

“Here” marks a big swing from Zemeckis Based on a graphic novel of the same name, the entire movie takes place in the exact same location – with the exact same view – starting at least as far back as the dinosaurs and progressing to the living room of the couple portrayed by Hanks and Wright. “The single perspective never changes, but everything around it does,” Zemeckis told Vanity Fair in a recent interview. Hanks and Wright’s characters first come into the picture as a young couple. Wright was de-aged, for example, with footage of when she was 19 years old, according to IndieWire. Zemeckis has always been one to toy with the limits of technology in the medium. Those CGI duds, like “Beowulf” and “Pinnochio,” were more labored and less beloved – possibly presaging Zemeckis’ foray into AI with “Here.” De-aging, AI-powered or not, has always proved divisive, drawing scrutiny in blockbusters ranging from the recent “Indiana Jones” to serious pictures like “The Irishman.” It’s not just that it looks bad. Many creatives oppose AI on principle, especially in the movie industry, where Hollywood screenwriters fought tooth and nail for landmark protections against the technology.

While Zemeckis’ latest technological tinkering might evoke nostalgia, it’s evident that not all fans are on board with the results. The de-aging technology is a double-edged sword; it can be striking in its realism at times, but it can also plunge into the uncanny valley without warning. Imagine catching a glimpse of your favorite stars in their prime, only to realize something feels off. It’s a bit like watching a high-definition replay of your childhood VHS tapes—exciting but eerily different.

The plot of “Here” itself is a fascinating concept. The film is anchored to a single location, witnessing the tapestry of time unfold from the days of dinosaurs to the modern living room. This fixed perspective serves as a unique storytelling device, allowing the scenery to evolve while focusing on human narratives. This is classic Zemeckis, always pushing the envelope to explore uncharted cinematic territories. His ambition to meld traditional storytelling with cutting-edge technology is both his strength and potential Achilles’ heel.

AI in entertainment has been a topic of heated debate. For every person thrilled by the prospect of technological advancements, there’s another wary of its implications. De-aging technology, in particular, has had its share of hits and misses. From de-aged action heroes in recent blockbusters to the sagas of mobsters in “The Irishman,” the technology has been scrutinized not just for its visual fidelity but for what it represents. The industry grapples with questions around authenticity, artistry, and the ethics of using AI to manipulate human likeness.

So, while “Here” may remind us of the magic Zemeckis once conjured, it also throws us headlong into the current discourse on AI in filmmaking. Whether you find the de-aged Hanks and Wright charming or unsettling, there’s no denying that Zemeckis remains a pioneer willing to take risks. His latest film may not be perfect, but it does what cinema should: provoke thought, stir emotions, and, just maybe, make us look at something familiar in a whole new way.