Review: "Finch"

Apple TV has had a great run as of late churning out hit after hit on the television front and lately with movies as well. Finch is the new addition to the streaming giant and features impressive visuals along with one of the greatest actors of our time in Tom Hanks. It is a tour de force by the talented actor in the hands of a lesser actor, the film would have folded upon itself. At first glance, you may think the film borrows from "I Am Legend" or "Mad Max" but it is not that kind of dire film. Instead, the focus is more on the connection that the protagonist has with his remaining family which happens to be an adorable dog and an endearing newborn robot. In a way, Finch is a bit of a fairy tale that borrows elements from Pinocchio as it is about a man whose interactions and experiences with life begin to be shared with the very robot he created to keep his beloved dog alive. As he shares his wisdom with the robot it begins to evolve into a mechanical real boy.

The plot follows Finch (Tom Hanks) who survived the apocalypse for the time being as most people had died following a solar flare that wiped out the ozone layer. Most human, animal, and plant life on Earth was then hit with devastating radiation. Now, even a second in direct sunlight can burn exposed skin. Finch, however, was once a skilled engineer and computer whiz at a renowned tech company where he resides currently creating all kinds of gizmos from robots to a high-tech hazmat suit to make his life easier in this new world. All of his creations have helped keep him alive for fifteen years since the end along with his trusty companion Goodyear, a loving dog by his side, and a cute little robot named Dewey. The problems begin to mount quickly as we see Finch coughing up blood and a massive storm is inbound that will force him to evacuate his home. In light of his failing health, he creates an intelligent artificial intelligence with a few directives that follow the guidelines of making sure his dog Goodyear is taken care of at all times. What Finch didn't take into consideration while creating his new robot was how much it would enrich his final days.

Tom Hanks once again proves in this film how powerful of an actor he truly is. He had shown previously before that he can be captivating interacting with inanimate objects in Cast Away and he brings that same kind of performance to Finch. The biggest difference here is often he is having rather emotionally charged conversations with a robot and the weight of the scenes, in particular, is incredibly heavy and he handles it with such grace allowing the audience to truly believe that this massive robot is in fact real. Caleb Landry Jones also does a phenomenal job as the voice of the robot. The robot itself is a wonderful character and Jones does a great job of bringing a child-like behavior to it. It is almost impossible not to feel something for the character when it thinks it does something good and celebrates as a child would.

Finch's director is largely a newer director in Hollywood but really excels in this film as again most of what happens is hidden away on green screen. He clearly has a good view of how to frame shots as this film truly has some stunning visuals but the heart of the film is never lost. The dog, Goodyear is also a standout as his relationship with Finch is a massive part of the film as well as informing Finch as a character. Throughout the film, love pours out of their interactions. Ultimately, that is the theme of the film too. Companionship can get people through the worst and most dire of times often rising someone up to their best selves. The director Miguel Sapochnik and Tom Hanks never lose sight of this and in doing so it makes this film a rather emotionally charged film that will be sure to make you feel something by the time it is over. Once again, Apple TV hit on another gem with this exclusive streaming title as it is sure to be an enjoyable film amongst loved ones.