Plot Summary of Finch
Finch is a 2021 American science fiction film directed by Miguel Sapochnik and produced by Amblin Entertainment. The story follows Finch Weinberg, a robotics engineer played by Tom Hanks, who survives a catastrophic solar event that has wiped out most life on Earth. He lives in a sealed underground lab in St. Louis, Missouri, with his dog Goodyear and a humanoid robot he builds named Jeff, voiced by Caleb Landry Jones. The film focuses on Finch's final days as he prepares for his own death and tries to ensure Goodyear survives. The narrative centers on the bond between Finch, Goodyear, and Jeff as they travel across a post-apocalyptic landscape toward the coast. The movie ends with Finch dying peacefully in the back of the van, leaving Goodyear and Jeff to continue the journey together. The final scenes show Jeff guiding Goodyear toward a new home, implying the dog survives the events of the film. The film was released on Apple TV+ on November 5, 2021. It was produced by Amblin Partners and distributed by Apple Inc. The runtime is 115 minutes. The film is rated PG-13 for thematic elements, language, and brief violence. The production budget was reported to be around $40 million. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Tom Hanks' performance and the emotional core of the story. It holds a 6.4 rating on IMDb based on over 100,000 user votes. The film is available for streaming exclusively on Apple TV+ in most regions. The story is set in a future where a massive coronal mass ejection has destroyed the ozone layer and made the surface uninhabitable. Finch's character is shown to be dying from radiation exposure throughout the film. The dog Goodyear is a central emotional element of the narrative. The film's title refers to the main character, not the dog. The dog's name is Goodyear, a nod to the tire company Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. The film explores themes of mortality, companionship, and the ethics of artificial intelligence. The post-apocalyptic setting is filmed in various locations across the American Southwest. The cinematography emphasizes the contrast between the dark underground lab and the bright, toxic surface world. The film's score was composed by Marco Beltrami. The visual effects were handled by Industrial Light & Magic. The film was one of the first major Apple TV+ original movies to receive a theatrical release in some international markets. It was also one of the first films to use a new Apple TV+ watermarking system for anti-piracy. The film's script was written by Craig Luck and Ivor Powell. The concept originated from a spec script purchased by Amblin Partners. The film was greenlit by Apple in 2019. Filming took place primarily in New Mexico. The production team included several veterans of the sci-fi genre, including executive producer Steven Spielberg. The film's marketing campaign focused heavily on Tom Hanks' return to leading roles. The trailer was released in October 2021. The film premiered at the BFI London Film Festival prior to its streaming release. The film is often compared to other post-apocalyptic stories like "I Am Legend" and "The Road." The dog's survival is a key point of discussion among viewers. The film does not show the dog dying at any point. The dog is alive at the end of the film. The final shot of the film is of Goodyear walking with Jeff toward the sunrise. The film's ambiguous ending leaves the long-term fate of Goodyear and Jeff open to interpretation. The film's runtime and pacing were designed to focus on character development rather than action sequences. The film's dialogue is minimal in several key scenes, relying on visual storytelling