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by Guest
Thu May 31, 2018 6:34 am
Forum: Full Reviews
Topic: Ex Machina
Replies: 0
Views: 751

Ex Machina

“Ex Machina” (2015) 89%

“Ex Machina” is a smart and intelligent sci-fi thriller with a clever screenplay that really makes you think. A science fiction film about ideas not special effects. The ideas in the film are explosive enough. The film follows a programmer named Caleb who is invited by his CEO to administer the Turing test to an intelligent humanoid robot. Nathan (played by Oscar Isaac) has built this humanoid robot named Ava with artificial intelligence.

Ava has already passed a simple Turing test and Nathan wants Caleb to judge wether if Ava is capable of thought and consciousness, and if he can relate to Ava despite knowing she is artificial. The acting in the film is great. Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac are terrific but it’s Alicia Vikander that steals the show. Vikander as Ava delivers a stellar performance. The acting and the screenplay go great together. Very believable performances to go along with great dialogue.

The film was written and directed by Alex Garland in his directorial debut. The writer of such films as “The Beach” (2000) and “28 Days Later” (2002). His screenplay really comes to life as the movie progresses to it’s final climax. The movie is a bit creepy as we start figuring out what’s really happening below the surface of the story. The ideas explained by Nathan and how he thinks are always interesting and seem to serve the plot well.

Nathan thinks he plays “god” in the film. The creator of Blue Book, a google like search engine. His greatest creation to date is Ava. Nathan’s narcissistic attitude and heavy drinking eventually catches up with him as Caleb becomes more emotionally attached to Ava. Things only escalate as the plot thickens.

“Ex Machina” seems heavily influenced by Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”(1968) and would make a good double feature with Jonathan Glazer’s “Under The Skin”(2014). Science fiction films that will leave you thinking about technology, science and life itself and how we would relate as humans to artificial intelligence. “Ex Machina” is a great science fiction film that will test your intelligence.

Alex Garland has left us so much to ponder over and discuss. Intelligent ideas that come together with a great cast and screenplay that really makes you think. I really enjoyed the writing and the acting in this film. Garland’s directorial debut is very impressive. I hope his next film is just as good.