Creator

Creator is a touching and endearing movie, with an element of science fiction, from the 1980s. Released in 1985, the film revolves around an idiosyncratic yet brilliant scientist Dr. Harry Wolper, compellingly played by legendary actor Peter O'Toole. The movie is directed by Ivan Passer, known for his poignant storytelling style and is based on the 1980 novel of the same name by Jeremy Leven.

O'Toole's character Dr. Wolper is a Nobel laureate who teaches biology at a college in Southern California. He is an eccentric, frequently so occupied by his scientific experiments that he loses track of time and disregards societal norms. He always carries an underlying sense of sadness, being a widower haunted by the loss of his beloved wife, Lucy. Complicating his life further is Wolper's desire to clone his late spouse, for which he is continuously mocked and lambasted by colleagues and the scientific community.

Dr. Wolper, however, ignores the ridicule and persists in his research. He even attempts to use Lucy's preserved brain cells. His lab, which is more like a shrine to her memory, is filled with her pictures, clothing, and possessions, augmenting his deep attachment to her past existence and his desperate hopes to revive her.

In the midst of all his resolute efforts to clone Lucy, Dr. Wolper meets Meli, an exuberant and upbeat girl who bears a striking resemblance to Lucy in her youth. Mariel Hemingway, well-known for her previous roles in Manhattan and Lipstick, flawlessly plays Meli. Dr. Wolper becomes fond of her, helping her sort out her life while she in turn begins to melt some of the ice around his heart.

The quirky scientist also takes on a mentee, Boris Lafkin, played by Vincent Spano, who creates a parallel storyline. Boris is an aspiring but anxious biology graduate student who has been blocked in completing his doctoral dissertation for years due to his bouts of existential stress. Dr. Wolper's unique perspectives and unconventional teachings inspire Boris to see life differently.

The movie juxtaposes Wolper’s pursuit of giving life to the past and Boris’s strive for modifying his future. This provides an intriguing counterpoint to the film’s main narrative. Lending a humanistic dimension to the film, Boris's relationship with Barbara (Virginia Madsen), a fellow student, also evolves alongside his mentorship with Dr. Wolper. Their budding romance progresses throughout the film and helps to illuminate the complexities of love in different forms.

Creator could be best classified as a dramatic comedy with a touch of sci-fi. The science fiction aspects, related to cloning and biomedical ethics, are subtle enough not to overshadow the movie's focus on its characters and their relationships. The movie intelligently uses a scientific backdrop to explore much deeper and complex human emotions dealing with loss, love, memory, and the lengths at which a person would go to keep their loved ones alive.

The film is charmingly full of light-hearted moments that make it a delightful watch. O’Toole’s masterful portrayal of Dr. Wolper leverages his penchant for playing characters with larger-than-life personalities and offbeat humor, which enhances the overall feel of the movie. Hemingway and Spano also deliver nuanced performances that bring depth to their characters and contribute to the film's overall emotional resonance.

Moreover, the underlying theme of the movie, the persistent question of what defines life, and what it means to be a creator, is another part of what makes this film so intriguing and enduring. It provokes deep thought on the role of science in life creation and manipulation, while also showcasing the intriguing bond between a mentor and his mentee.

All in all, Creator is a unique blend of comedy, drama, romance, and science fiction. It manages to pique the interest of viewers while offering a warm, layered portrayal of characters who are trying to balance their obsession with their research and their longing for love and companionship. It's a moving tale of love, loss, and the complexities of life, set against the backdrop of a scientific setting which makes it distinct yet relatable on so many levels.