Director: Alex Garland
By Alex Watson
Although he is untested in the director's chair, Alex Garland's debut, Ex Machina is a revelatory piece of sci-fi cinema that tests the boundary of the human/AI relationship. But more than that, it asks makes us think hard about what it really means to be human? This movie not only combines some the great ideals that Garland has gathered in his previous work, but also is a unique and at times borderline creepy experience.
IT coder Caleb (Domnhall Gleason) unexpectedly wins a work place lottery and gets to spend a week with his reclusive boss Nathan (Oscar Isaac). But while at his large estate, Nathan quickly reveals a big secret behind his visit. He has constructed a living AI named Ava (Alicia Vikander) and is depending on Caleb to assess her through a series of communication session. But through these moments behind a glass wall, Caleb begins to wonder if this cyber woman can feel like other humans?
From the very get go there is a dark and tense feel surrounding Garland's picture and through this, Ex Machina has an uncomfortable sense of enclosure. The moment that Caleb is greeted by his genius boss beating a punchbag to rid himself of a hang over, we realize this a man like no other. Moments later he has one hell of a non-diclosure agreement thrust in front of him and is led to bedroom with no windows! Nathan succeeds at making our nerves jangle and as time passes him becomes more like the insane king of his own private land.
Together the two men are polar opposites, Nathan is the fun loving yet conspicuous boss who loves throwing out obscure references to oral sex scenes in Ghostbusters before spontaneously bursting onto his own private dance floor. Caleb is naive yet mistrustful of his surroundings, behind each wall lies some potential secret which Nathan wants to stay hidden at all costs. His initial admiration for his boss is skillful chipped away by Garland and his rightfully realized insecurities and fears are pushed in front of us gently.
The sessions with Ava are by far the movie's firing pin as through these, her responses and actions are unlike any we have seen. Her ability and slicing between any lie or truth But amidst the budding attraction between and man and machine, there remain some firm and troubling questions? Can Ava truly be alive in her mechanical body? Are her feelings that are cognitive and genuine? Or this merely some ploy by Nathan or Ava for a more devious purpose?
Performance wise, Ex Machina belongs to the graceful yet heartfelt turn of Alicia Vikander as Ava! Precisely nailing each delicate movement, expression and dialogue, Vikander brings this lady to life and we instantly wonder whether there is living organism underneath the circuits? A rising star, Vikander shows that she is a talent to be reckoned with and alongside top support from both Gleason and Oscar Isaac this triumvirate makes the movie comes alive.
Alex Garland has hit the nail on the head with this effort and the screenwriter/novelist has finally brought together his ideas together. With Ex Machina he has given us a brain ticking effort that will give us serious thought about the future of AI! Feel secure now, Sonny from I-Robot?
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