"Ex Machina" Review

Title: Ex Machina

Directed by: Alex Garland

Screenplay by: Alex Garland

Year: 2015


For years now, we have received countless films dealing with artificial intelligence and its possible future evolution. I would go so far as to call this type of plot a cliche at this point. With the exception of a few, these films have become very tired and seem factory made, in that they have all been made the same way and it is difficult to tell them apart. Does Ex Machina fall under the innovative, creative category, or is it another run-of-the-mill man vs. technology story?

Caleb Smith is a programmer who wins a competition to visit the CEO of his company at his mountain estate. There he meets the eccentric yet brilliant Nathan Bateman. Nathan wants Caleb to participate in a Turing test with an artificial being that Nathan has created. As the tests continue, both Nathan and Caleb find that Ava, the A.I., is a much more complicated creation than they originally thought.

Ex Machina runs on three performances: those of Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, and Oscar Isaac. Thankfully, each one brings their A-game. Leading the cast is Gleeson as the protagonist Caleb. Caleb is an ambitious young man eager to jump at any opportunity yet also a very cautious and wary person. Gleeson gives an understated and solid performance as the young programmer. Alicia Vikander is even more impressive as the "robot" Ava. Vikander plays the part with exceptional grace. Giving off a vibe of insatiable curiosity and extreme intelligence, she provides Ava with a warmer personality than we are used to seeing in robotic characters. However, it is Oscar Isaac that really stunned me. His role as the mysterious and strangely informal Nathan is very peculiar. The man can seem threatening and dangerous, but also friendly and charming. Isaac has been garnering considerable fame, as he has been cast in both Star Wars: The Force Awakens and X-Men: Apocalypse, and in this film, he demonstrates why he has been selected for such big franchises.

The story is very simple, and only finds complexity through its progression rather than its premise. Caleb will meet with Ava, have a conversation with her, and report back to Nathan. However, as the meetings go on, Ava begins telling Caleb interesting details about the situation. The plot is very quiet and incredibly claustrophobic. The majority of the film takes place at Nathan's mountain estate, and as impressive as the home is, it is quite creepy. A lot of this stems from the lighting, which is used fantastically throughout the picture. The plot feels very contained as a result, which really benefits the movie in this case as it draws in the viewer and makes them feel as if they are there in Caleb's position. This film excels at generating a tension-filled and gripping atmosphere.

This science-fiction flick is not overly reliant on computer generated images or special effects, but the effects that are in this film are spectacular. Ava's design is very difficult to create, and it is hard to tell what parts of her were a costume and what was CGI. It is refreshing to see a science fiction movie that is not filled to the brim with special effects. This one focuses more on ideas and thought provoking questions.

The film moves along at a very leisurely, slow pace. There is zero action in the movie. It relies solely on dialogue and thrills to capture the audience's attention, and it succeeds. The conversations that Caleb has with Ava, and with Nathan for that matter, are riveting and gets the mind thinking. It is rare to see a film that requires the audience to actually think nowadays. The slow pace works for the film most of the time, but because the plot is undeniably repetitive, since Caleb must go through the same routine multiple times, the pacing can come across as a bit too slow at certain points.

However, the climax is terrifically executed. The stakes are high, and the suspense is even higher. We don't exactly know whom to trust, and there is a genuine feeling of fear permeating throughout the thrilling sequence. It is really difficult to speak of this film without revealing the twists and turns that the story takes.

I have but one major flaw with the film, and it is that the premise is not original. The script is well handled but we have seen this done many times before. As a result, the resolution comes off as rather predictable to a certain degree. I wouldn't call it cliche by any means, but do not be surprised if the film ends on the same note you guessed.

Ex Machina serves as a reminder of what science fiction can and should be: thought provoking. The film puts humanity under a microscope and dissects what makes us tick, and does so with only three characters. The performances are strong, the story is engaging, and the finale is truly chilling. It might seem a bit slow in some parts and the movie is not breaking new ground, but this is a damn fine example of executing an old, tired cliche while also bringing something new to the table. This is a tremendous start for first-time director Alex Garland and I cannot wait to see what his next project will bring us.

Grade: A-