Ex-Machina (2015)

Director: Alex Garland

Story: Alex Garland

Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac

Music: Ben Salisbury, Geoff Barrow

Time: 108 minutes

Bottom-line: A deeply intriguing sci-fi thriller

To erase the line between man and machine is to obscure the line between men and gods.

This directional debut of Alex Garland gives him a firm footing in the film industry. Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander and Oscar Isaac in the lead roles, Ex-Machina is a futuristic sci-fi thriller about a humanoid robot.

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

Caleb Smith (Gleeson) is a programmer for the search engine company, Blue Book. He wins a competition which gives him a chance to visit the isolated house/research facility of the CEO, Nathan Bateman (Isaac). Nathan lives alone apart from a servant, Kyoko (Sonoya Mizuno) – who neither understands nor speaks English – and a humanoid robot with AI, Ava (Vikander). Caleb’s job is to test whether Ava has a “consciousness”, despite knowing the fact that she is a robot. As the sessions go by, Ava and Caleb become attracted to each other. Ava is able to trigger temporary power shortages that allow them to speak without Nathan watching them. During one such power outrage, Ava tells Caleb that Nathan is a liar and cannot be trusted. When Nathan passes out drunk one night, Caleb decides to explore the house. What he finds makes him question everything around him: why was he chosen? What’s the real job Nathan wants him to do? 

 

Gleeson as Caleb (left) and Isaac as Nathan

Given that this is Garland’s debut film, the major highlight is the simplicity. While the visual effects are outstanding (James Cameron would be proud), the story otherwise is simple, clean and crisp, with minimalistic dialogue and characters. Once the story starts, the dialogues between Caleb and Nathan give us sufficient character intros, and we know that Caleb’s job is to perform a Turing test on Ava, but the plot twists keep coming one after the other. By the end, you realise that you, as a viewer, have been manipulated as well. Irrespective of whether the ending is justified or not, it is most certainly unexpected. Being able to fit in so many credible twists in a tale with minimal settings is indeed a skill.

 

Vikander as Ava

Whether or not AI will be able to do whatever Ava does is debatable, but while AI and robots in movies are becoming more common, Ex-Machina stands apart. The acting is another big boost to the film. Oscar Isaac’s narcissism and crooked personality are in stark contrast to Gleeson’s innocence and honesty. The mind games they play with each other – as well as the other thought experiments they discuss – make you wonder who really is ahead of the game. Alicia Vikander’s performance earned her a BAFTA nomination. The way she portrays the characteristics of a robot and a human at the same time is admirable.

With an absorbing storyline, and a chilling climax, Ex-Machina is a brilliant film by Alex Garland. It relies more on science than the action, which is what makes it different. Watch it for the visuals, as well as for Isaac’s and Vikander’s performances.

My rating: 4/5

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 92%