It turns out that helping a Hollywood studio make a couple billion dollars opens some occupational doors. Ergo Wally Pfister, Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning cinematographer on Inception and the Batman films, jumps into the director’s chair for the first time with Transcendence, a techno-thriller that over the course of two hours systematically squanders an interesting concept, in deflating fashion. If science-fiction can, intellectually and production-scope wise, either go big or go home, Transcendence is the latter version masquerading as the former: an over-plotted movie, glossy and expansive but about two inches deep, of contrasting wingnut philosophies and flat-line emotional affect. Overstuffed but underdeveloped, it mistakes serial incident for dramatic connection. For the full, original review, from Paste, click here. (Warner Bros., PG-13, 119 minutes)