RoboCop returns to theatres with this remake of a 1980s Sci-Fi action classic
The year is 2028 and it is a multinational melting pot of robot technology.
Drones have been used in the military for years, abroad, but have been forbidden to be used in law enforcement in America.
When OmniCorp wants to bring its controversial technology to the home front, it sees a golden opportunity in Alex Murphy (played by Joel Kinnaman, seen in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), a critically-injured good cop, to build a part-man, part-robot police enforcer.
Futuristic Vision
OmniCorp envisions having a RoboCop in every city, and even more billions for their shareholders. But they never counted on one thing, the man within the machine.
RoboCop is a remake of the popular film that Paul Verhoeven shot in 1987, about a cyborg (part man, part machine) cop that patrols the streets of a futuristic Detroit in the name of justice.
The current director, José Padilha, is the man chosen to reintroduce this iconic character to audiences all over the world. Now, the science fiction that was depicted in the original movie in the 1980s is closer to science than to fiction.
“Paul Verhoeven created an iconic character that embodied the philosophical concept that automated law enforcement could lead to fascism,” explained the Brazilian director.
“Funnily enough, he did this in 1987 but now we are very close to this actually happening!” exclaimed Padilha.
Electric Dream Come True
Joel Kinnaman, the Swedish-born lead, was thrilled when he found out about the remake.
“I probably saw the original movie around 20 times as a kid!” he exclaimed.
He added, “Alex is a righteous cop and a family man that is trying to do the best he can in a flawed system, until some events completely change the course of his life. Then he has to learn to deal with this new reality that is put before him.”
Veteran actor Gary Oldman plays Dr Dennett Norton, the scientist who helps to create RoboCop. Along the way, he has to compromise with decisions he wasn’t entirely sure or convinced about, as the corporation he works for corrupts him.
“Yes, I get somewhat corrupted by OmniCorp through the unlimited funding that is offered for my research if I get on board the RoboCop project,” said the acclaimed British actor.
“So, I go against my better instinct, although I do accept responsibility towards the end of the movie – which is a rare commodity,” he said.
After nearly three decades [Has it really been that long?] RoboCop continues to attempt to provoke thought. Does this reboot succeed or does it fall flat in failed mimicry? You decide.
“The challenge is to make a movie that touches key ideas about politics and about what it means to be human while still reaching a broad audience,” said Padilha.
“You have to strike a balance between the drama and the fun, which you do by finding the right tone. And that’s what we have done with RoboCop,” he said.
Refreshing or not, RoboCop promises to be one hell of a ride.
RoboCop [PG]
Director: Jose Padilha
Starring: Gary Oldman, Joel Kinnaman, Samuel L Jackson and Abbie Cornish
Genre: Sci-Fi
Run Length: 121 min
Release: Jan 30
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