Ex-Machina Review (Observer Archive from April 27, 2015)

            Artificial intelligence is a subject that lends itself to constant interpretations in film. Should we fear the idea they may become smarter than us, almost as if they’re the next step in evolution? This is one of the many questions that Alex Garland’s Ex-Machina answers, in a hypothetical and entertaining form.

            Ex-Machina stars Domhnall Gleeson as Caleb, a computer programmer working for the fictional search engine Bluebook. He wins a chance to visit his reclusive boss and founder of Bluebook Nathan, played by Oscar Isaac. When he arrives at his remote estate, Nathan tells him he was chosen to undergo a Turing Test, essentially looking for Artificial Intelligence in the female android named Ava, played by Alicia Vikander. During their conversations, Caleb becomes fascinated with Ava’s capacity of learning and surprising humanity when sharing his life with her. Things soon become tense with the isolation getting to Caleb, on top of Ava secretly telling him to not trust Nathan, who further cements this idea by constantly getting drunk and more malicious each day.

The story is fantastic, a well crafted sci-fi thriller by Garland, known for writing the script for 28 Days Later, one of the better post apocalyptic films. Not only has he written the story, he’s also shot the story as first time director. The atmosphere is at times broad with them shots of nature to isolation and claustrophobia when inside Nathan’s estate. It’s also another good study of humans losing humanity when searching for perfection in machinery, as in the case with Nathan obsessing with making the perfect A.I.

 

          

 The acting is superb. Gleeson is convincing as the brilliant programmer with a moral compass that contrasts radically with Isaac’s Nathan, who does truly monstrous things to himself and his test A.I.s that were made before Ava. Ava herself is an enigma; the whole reason the question of A.I.s having feelings and thoughts is addressed in the film. Without spoiling the ending completely, Ava’s true motivation throughout the film is to escape and join the society that she’s been studied to emulate. To do this, she manipulates Caleb into sympathizing with her, which she honestly doesn’t have a hard time doing with Nathan’s constant intoxication. We get glimpses that she cares and likes Caleb, but in the end he’s only a means to an end. This may seem cold of her but when the only other human she has as references is her creator, it makes sense she wouldn’t trust him completely.

            I highly recommend any fans of Garland’s previous works and sci-fi with engaging storytelling to see this film. It’s now playing worldwide after starting on a limited release. I guarantee the experience will be thought provoking.