EX MACHINA

Isn't it strange, to create something that hates you?

I’ve not seen many films like Ex Machina. Actually, I don’t think I’ve seen any films like Ex Machina. Not many movies these days go for the physiological sci-fi approach, maybe because it’s not easy to pull off. Not only does Ex Machina pull it off, it does so with exceptional style.

The plot follows Caleb as, after winning the chance to meet the Inventor, Nathan, he is introduced to the A.I. known as Ava. His job is to test Ava, simply to see if she is what she’s meant to be. From the start of the film, it’s quite apparent something’s off. For starters, Nathan is a recluse, lives basically inside a mountain, as is…a bit odd.

The cast basically only contains those three roles. Domhnall Gleeson plays Caleb, and does a great job of playing the part. Nathan is played by Oscar Isaac. I have to say, having recently watched him in The Force Awakens, his role here is so utterly different. He’s still brilliant, but it’s a different kind of brilliant. Ava is played by Alicia Vikander, who I’ve not seen in any movie before this. She actually does a really good job of playing Ava.

The camera work in the film is great too. Whilst at the start there’s lots of great establishing shots to show off Nathan’s mountain, as the film went on I noticed the shots got a lot more close-up to the characters. It’s subtle, but really helps build the tension.

The good thing is that it’s not all tension building scenes between human and machine. There are funny moments in the film too. For example, the scene where Nathan ‘tears up the dance floor’ had me laughing for ages.

The message of the film is obviously about humanity. ‘What makes us human?’ and all that sort of stuff. Thankfully, it’s not in-your-face about it like some movies have been in the past. It’s subtle, which, all though the film isn’t faced paced like most modern movies, works really well. Anything else would have made the movie very, very different.

My only real gripe with the movie is the ending. When I first watched it, I didn’t really agree with some of the choices being made. Thinking back to earlier moments in the film, and more specifically some of the stuff that’s said though, the ending actually makes sense. Doesn’t mean I have to agree with it though.

On the whole, Ex Machina was a nice surprise. The cast does an amazing job of bringing their characters alive, and the story works well, especially when we live in a world where the invention of A.I.s could happen at any time. It may not be to everyone’s liking, but it makes a nice change from the usual high-octane, explosion-ridden movies that come out every few weeks.

8/10