Guadagnino's 'Artificial' Premieres to Mixed Reviews — SkimNews
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- "Artificial" premiered at the New York Film Festival, with a US release set for December 25, Australia on January 21, and the UK on January 27.
- Amazon MGM Studios pulled out of distributing the film in June; the review links the decision to Jeff Bezos's reported $50 billion investment in OpenAI.
- Andrew Garfield stars as Sam Altman, portraying his trajectory from "demon twink to narcissistic grifter" through his firing and five-day-later rehiring by the board.
- Simon Rich, a former Saturday Night Live staffer, the film's writer, with a score by Damon Albarn; the review calls the humor "frustratingly broad" despite some "satisfyingly savage" lines.
- Ike Barinholtz plays Elon Musk, with the review noting the portrayal leans closer to a Mike Myers SNL impression than to the actual Tesla CEO.
- The film is part of what the reviewer calls "tech oligarch season at the movies," alongside upcoming films about Elon Musk, Elizabeth Holmes, and Mark Zuckerberg.
Why it matters: Amazon MGM's June withdrawal from distribution — reportedly connected to Jeff Bezos's $50 billion OpenAI investment — illustrates how financial ties to AI companies are already shaping which satirical films about tech leaders reach audiences, regardless of artistic intent.
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