After being highly recommended to me by fellow sci-fi enthusiasts, I watched Ex Machina on blu-ray and saw what all the fuss was about. Ex Machina is about a programmer (Domhnall Gleeson) who is selected by his boss (Oscar Isaac) to begin testing a humanoid with artificial intelligence (Alicia Vikander). I liked the near future setting, stretching modern technology just enough, (not trying too hard to explain the science, or at all in some cases), to not be distracting and yet was endlessly fascinating. Not knowing all the facts of what was going on helped build the tension in the film, as the more that Gleeson learned, the more we learnt as viewers. He brought an awkward and inquisitive performance to the role, which contrasted well against Isaac’s assertive and unquestioned genius as the CEO with too much time, money, brains, and beard. The film won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, was made on a budget of $15 million and beat the likes of Mad Max: Fury Road ($150 million budget) and Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($200 million budget). It was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay by writer and first time director Alex Garland, whose next film Annihilation comes out this year starring Natalie Portman, (along with Oscar Isaac). Most of the gorgeous exterior shots were filmed in Norway, (the house is actually a hotel), and there were some intriguing interior shots using lots of red, (quickly ramping up the tension). The film explores artificial intelligence, provoking thought, presenting it in a contained atmosphere, and is (somewhat) fleshed out by the deliberate and measured performance of Alicia Vikander, (next seen as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider next month). I recommend this film to fans of sci-fi who appreciate smaller scale, (unlike the world building of a Star Wars film), mature, (with respect to content, themes, and lasting impression), thought provoking, (should we build these?), and captivating films, (worth watching for the special effects alone).

Ex Machina

IMDB

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/?ref_=nv_sr_2

2014, 14A, 1h 48m

Spoilers

(please do not continue reading if you have not seen the movie and do not want to read a spoiler)

I appreciate the ending, with Vikander’s Ava entering into society and the boys either dead or trapped in the house. A lot of the film had me hoping Gleeson’s Caleb would make it out with Ava. Then he was locked in and I realized if making, trapping, and testing a humanoid a.i. was wrong, (you wouldn’t treat a human like that and we may give those same rights to them), then she was right to seal his fate. It also meant the two that would come looking for her would not be, giving her more freedom. When the “Ava Session 7” appeared on the screen, which should mean she had another test, but #7 was when she left the house, which makes it almost appear as if she was running the test sessions. Twists and endings like these, (similar to The Outer Limits and Black Mirror), provide a necessary balance to the films and shows that always end with the heroes winning and everyone being ok. Gleeson was even in an episode of Black Mirror, “Be Right Back” as an artificial human made to replace a deceased loved one. It was also neat seeing Gleeson and Isaac switching roles, this time Isaac was a villain, as they both appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015.