Today’s quick review: Ex Machina. Caleb Smith (Domnhall Gleeson) is a programmer at Bluebook, the world’s leading search engine. When he enters a company lottery, he wins the chance to spend a week with Nathan (Oscar Isaac), the company’s brilliant founder, at his remote home. There, Nathan asks Caleb to test his latest project: Ava (Alicia Vikander), an artificial intelligence capable of human behavior.
Ex Machina is a minimalistic science fiction drama about artificial intelligence. Ex Machina features an engrossing script, polished presentation, and a delicately handled tone. The movie follows Caleb as he interviews Ava and provides feedback to Nathan about her performance. But as Caleb gets to know Ava and her creator, he learns that more is going on than meets the eye.
Ex Machina strikes a peculiar balance between thriller and ordinary drama. The suspicious behavior of Nathan, the nature of the test, the remoteness of the house, and Ava herself all contribute to an atmosphere of suspense. But for all its suspensful cues, Ex Machina is judicious about when to escalate the tension. The result is an implied cat-and-mouse game that the viewer picks up on long before its rules have been established.
Ex Machina also makes for interesting speculation. The movie never goes into great detail about Ava’s inner workings, but it touches on real philosophical discussions in the field of artificial intelligence. Ex Machina also comments in passing on the current state of technology and the danger of living in a world of cameras and mass data collection. As for Ava herself, she is an intriguing puzzle for both Caleb and the viewer.
Ex Machina is a worthwhile watch for any fan of the thoughtful side of the science fiction genre. Its simple premise develops in fascinating ways, and the movie’s interesting writing and solid execution make it a good pick. Skip it if you are looking for action or something with a lighter tone. For another minimalistic science fiction thriller, check out Primer or Moon.
7.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for all-around strong science fiction.