Set in the near future, Mercy paints a grim vision of the use and influence of artificial intelligence in society. Source: Australian Catholics.
Ethical and privacy issues pervade the film.
In Los Angeles in 2029, crime is rising. The authorities have instituted what is called the Mercy Court, a way of dealing rapidly with the accused. The judge is an artificial intelligence creation (played perfectly by Rebecca Ferguson), with all the case information readily available.
This raises the first question for the audience about how the authorities have so much information about individuals, groups, and social media entries expertly stored and so quickly available.
The film focuses on the Mercy Court case of Chris Raven (Chris Pratt), an alcoholic detective accused of murdering his wife. He has no memory of the event.
Raven is up against the clock. He has to prove his innocence within the trial’s 90-minute timeframe. The judge is programmed only to assess facts and evidence rather than work on any feelings or hunches, despite the accused’s arguments.
The visible countdown and a statistic visualised of the probability of the accused’s guilt always in view, there is a time tension throughout the film.
There is detection work to be done. There are witnesses to be questioned. And they are all made available instantly on screen, their lives, episodes, social media clips, the judge’s interrogation, and Raven intervening.
What emerges is quite a complex plot and a conspiracy to murder with unforeseen implications.
While the main action takes place in the rarefied atmosphere of the Mercy Court, there is still room for a huge chase sequence through the city.
Review by Fr Peter Malone MSC
Mercy: Starring Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov. 100 minutes. Rated M.
FULL REVIEW
Mercy (Australian Catholics)
