Ex Machina

Ex Machina

Starring Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Sonoya Mizuno

Directed by Alex Garland

The Story:
Computer coder Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson) wins the right to spend a week with the reclusive CEO of the company he works for, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac), on his remote island home.  Upon arriving, he learns that Nathan has been working on the ultimate scientific experiment - artificial intelligence.  He thinks he's created the ultimate A.I. in Ava (Alicia Vikander), and enlisted Caleb to perform a Turing test - a series of interviews that will determine if the A.I.'s awareness and personality are comparable to that of a human, or if it's greater than it.

Upon communicating with Ava, Caleb is spellbound by her beauty and begins to show true feelings for the A.I., which conflicts with the test while testing Caleb's ability to understand the situation himself - who is really playing whom?

The Synopsis:
"Ex Machina" (a take off from the Latin phrase 'deus ex machina' meaning 'a god from the machine') is one of those rare gems of the sci-fi genre that doesn't bog down the viewer with unnecessary complicated scientific dialogue, but yet it still forces the viewer to keep up with the story being told.  For a first time director, Alex Garland had a lot on his plate and managed to far exceed all expectations by delivering a film that's visually stunning, unnerving and exciting, most of which is due to the exemplary work of the three leads.

Domhnall Gleeson serves as the audience of the film.  He's the bright eyed, bushy tailed guy who's just excited to be there.  He leads the viewers through the web of lies and deceit as complex as the building is itself.  You don't know who to trust, and neither does Caleb, which serves as the main structure of the film and gives us as the audience the desire to know more and, most importantly, someone to really root for.

Oscar Isaac serves as the film's protagonist, a conflicted man confined to the prison of his own genius.  As with most people with amazingly high intellect, Nathan becomes a recluse and turns to alcohol to cope with his immeasurable genius.  Yet he also maintains a sarcastic, holier-than-thou attitude and feels that he is the smartest person in the room - which may or may not be the case.

Then there's the shining star of the show, Ava herself, Swedish actress Alicia Vikander.  She has the most complex and compelling role of the film, having to balance a performance where she doesn't come off as too robotic, or too humanistic.  The first time we see Ava is the first time Caleb sees her - almost as an exotic animal kept locked away in the confines of a zoo: mysterious, inquisitive, alone.  She plays the part of an A.I. intelligence so delicately that you can't help but feel for her as she experiences emotions - love, desire, inquisitiveness, human interactions - for the first time.  Even though she's a robot, her facial expressions give off a more in-depth view of her character: a being that's lonely, frightened, and confused about her own existence.

Enveloping the three leads is the visually stunning home/office of Nathan himself, which is a complex with very few windows to the outside world, yet existing mostly of windows inside.  It's an intriguing design that forces you to look at your own humanity, serving as almost a black-and-white viewpoint set against the colorful world just outside, just out of reach.  It's an arresting set piece.

When it comes to the story itself, it's like a chess game between Caleb and Nathan, as the two geniuses spar with their wits, all the while using Ava almost as a pawn, at least in Nathan's view.  The dialogue is filled with innuendo and double meanings, and the natural flow of the story keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next.  It's no wonder Alex Garland (who also wrote the screenplay) has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

The visual effects are downright stunning and amazing for a first-time director.  Ava's appearance is a brilliant blend of CGI and live-action, and it seamlessly blends the two in a way where you're wondering how they were able to pull it off so exceptionally.  Once again, no surprise here that it was nominated for an Oscar for Best Achievement in Visual Effects.

In the end, "Ex Machina" is no ordinary sci-fi film - it's an art house piece, one that keeps the viewer captivated with its wonderful twists and turns, with expert delivery from the three capable leads.

The Summary:
More than just a sci-fi film, "Ex Machina" blurs the lines between right and wrong, morality and immorality, and what makes a human human.  It leaves you with many questions about the world as a whole and sticks with you long after it ends.

The Score: A+