A commentary on 'I, Object', a curious fantasy film shot in New Zealand

On July 23, New Zealand hosted the premiere of a fantasy film shot in the country and titled "I, Object."

A review of 'The Social Reckoning' and the issues the film fails to address
'Heart of the Beast', a commentary on this survival film

The film was directed by Andrew Niccol—the creator of, among other famous feature films, "Gattaca" (1997), "The Truman Show" (1998), "The Terminal" (2004), and "Lord of War" (2005), a sequel to which is expected to be released next year. Niccol had not directed a film for eight years prior to the release of "I, Object", a movie that does not appear to have received much exposure, at least not so far. The film premiered in Spain on October 11 on Movistar Plus, bypassing a theatrical release entirely.

The film introduces us to a 10-year-old boy named Tom (played by American actor Bentley Storteboom) who talks to all kinds of objects—or, to be more precise, to those that exhibit pareidolia, resembling human faces. The film gives rise to certain paradoxes, such as chatting with two fried eggs: are you really going to eat them afterwards as if nothing happened? The cast also features American actor Ethan Hawke—star of "Gattaca" (now 55)—and New Zealand actor Karl Urban, who rose to fame playing Éomer in the film adaptation of "The Lord of the Rings" directed by his compatriot Peter Jackson. Canadian actress Skywalker Hughes plays Allie, a girl who shares Tom's habit.

To me, the idea of ​​someone talking to inanimate objects sounds like grounds for a visit to a good psychiatrist, so I sat Bilbo and Sam down to watch the movie (hoping to wean them off all that Spider-Man for a bit). Bilbo really liked it, even though there were a few tense moments (I won't say why, so as not to spoil the movie for you), and Sam offered an extensive cinematic and philosophical analysis when I asked for his opinion (he said "woof").

My opinion pales in comparison to that of these prestigious critics, but I can say that I found it a charming and entertaining film, even if it doesn't quite measure up to other titles by Niccol. It is refreshing to find such enjoyable and original works in today's cinema—and, above all, ones suitable for children. Here is the trailer: