Theatrical Reviews: Ex Machina

Hollywood has had a proud history of building artificial intelligence, with mixed results.  Sometimes the friendly robot is lovable and friendly, like Short Circuit.  Other times we get an army of Arnold Schwarzeneggers that bomb the planet.

In Ex Machina we are introduced to the latest addition to this robo-pantheon, Ava.  She’s an innocent looking thing who was created by a much more villainous acting tech genius, played by Oscar Isaac.  But is she evil or cuddly?  That Is a plot element I wouldn’t dare spoil.

The true intentions of two characters; the robot and her creator, are the two mysteries that surround the whole film and keep it moving forward.  Does Ava truly like the main character?  What is the mad genius planning to do with said robot?  And what does Gleeson’s character, a surprisingly effective surrogate for the audience, have to do with it?

The film is practically brilliant in its simplicity.  You won’t have any trouble following the plot, and there are only three characters you have too keep track of:  the robot, the genius, and the surrogate for the audience.  Yet the movie may leave you stewing for hours afterwards over the films implications about our future and how our own world seems to be slipping faster than ever into it.

Everything in the movie is about the sci-fi elements; but what really makes the film work are the interactions between the characters and the drama that creates.  By drama I don’t mean that people yell and get mad at each other.  I mean that there is a conflict of wits; and that the audience is only privy to part of it.

It should be said that the acting is fantastic all across the board in Ex Machina.  Gleeson is relatable, Isaac is lovable devilish, and Vikander, who plays the robot, has arguably the most complex performance of the lot.  A movie that was as reliant on character portraits as this one really needed a great cast to work; and I’m happy to say that they did not disappoint.

Ex Machina is one of the batter Artificial Intelligence movies out there.  It’s intriguing, intellectual and even a little heart-breaking all at the same time.  If you like sci-fi or quality filmmaking then this is clearly a must-see.