Jodie Foster tagged F1 as an ‘AI’ movie, arguing that the structure and dialogue of Brad Pitt’s blockbuster appear computer-generated.
Speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, the Oscar-winning actress and director used Joseph Kosinski’s sports drama to illustrate how some modern films seem completely generated.
While he used the film as a conceptual example rather than literally claiming that it was written by artificial intelligence, his comments certainly sparked a fascinating debate about the creative state of Hollywood.
The discussion took place during a Tuesday session focused on who owns the future of the entertainment industry.
Sitting down with media executive and former Sony boss Michael Lynton, Foster explored the massive forces currently reshaping the movie business, from changes in audience habits to the impact of the pandemic and recent labor strikes.
When the conversation turned to the inevitable topic of artificial intelligence, the filmmaker questioned humanity’s long-term control over the technology, wondering if we can really master it for more than a couple of years.
When Lynton asked whether AI could really replace human writers or actors, Foster noted that the industry is already using face-swapping technology, likening it to what regular people can do on an iPhone, only enhanced for “really fancy people.”
Elaborating on how this affects finished projects, he noted that many existing films appear completely computer-generated.
“I’m not saying this disparagingly, how could I? This movie went on to make millions of dollars, but look at a movie like F1. I’m like, F1 It was done by AI,” Foster told the live audience.
It’s a surprising criticism given the high-profile cinematic pedigree behind the film.
F1 In fact, it was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won the Oscar for Best Sound.
Director Joseph Kosinski wrote the script alongside Oscar-nominated screenwriter Ehren Kruger, while the heavy-hitting production team included Jerry Bruckheimer, Brad Pitt and Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton.
Additionally, the production team has previously explained that they intentionally relied on practical effects as much as possible, using digital magic primarily to ensure safety on the track.
Visual effects supervisor Ryan Tudhope revealed that his team replaced real cars or added background vehicles digitally to make the audience feel integrated into the race.
He explained that some stunts were simply too risky to perform with the main vehicles, so a stunt driver would instead use a smaller F3 car, which the effects team would later replace with their APXGP car.
