When you recall the greats of cinematic Science Fiction often the first thing to spring to mind is something visual, a glimpse of a future world or idea. The obelisk in 2001, the Star Destroyer overhead in the opening to Star Wars or the fiery plumes shooting into the sky above a neon lit LA in Blade Runner. Ex Machina is replete with visuals that seize your imagination and like those other greats that stay with us, marries them to a fascinating narrative.
In the not too distant future, we meet Caleb working as a programmer for Blue Book, the world’s dominant search engine. He finds he has won a competition to visit the research lab/home of Blue Book founder and technological genius Nathan Bateman. Upon his arrival it is revealed to him his real purpose, he was selected to be the human component in a “Turing test”, a means to identify whether a artificial intelligence is convincing in its attempts to act human. He is introduced to Nathan’s creation, Ava (Alicia Vikander), a synthetic construction resembling a young woman and host to this manufactured consciousness. Their conversations reveal her intellect and empathy and soon Caleb begins to fall for her. In time she reveals information leading Caleb to investigate Nathan’s real motivations and intent for the Ava intelligence.
Artificial intelligence has of course been looked at previously in film but Ex Machina takes far more time to examine the morality of bringing a AI to life, not just unleashing one into a muddled action spectacle (looking at you Chappie). The film gives Caleb time with Ava to get to know her and probe her thoughts, these sessions with her give the film a structure and often encapsulate some of the more interesting moment as they challenge each other in their expression of their own humanity. Caleb is fed information from Nathan which is countered by Ava giving a shifting dynamics between the trio. You can ever be too sure who has the upper hand.
The concept is that Ava is created as a result of using his web search results, algorithms fed into his AI, the idea that people’s online behavior not only revealing “what” people were thinking but “how” too. Ava is a reflection of humanity and when you back someone into a corner they will take desperate measures to protect themselves. There is some debate about the sexuality of the piece specifically the choice of a female persona for the AI. This decision is at the core of exploring Nathan’s motivations and inner issues, giving the film yet another dimension. What this all accumulates into is a study of sexuality, sexism, manipulation and subservience. Ex Machina is as much about looking at human intelligence as artificial.
Gleeson (About Time, Calvary, Frank) continues to add to his impressive catalog of work, providing the moral conscience of the film, at least from some perspectives. Vikander gives an incredibly nuanced performance. While her character is already clearly different in appearance, she carries herself with an eerie grace that is utterly captivating, coming across as delicate but with the a hint of a subversive nature. Perfect for the ambiguity the plot crafts. The most surprising performance is that from Issac, whose tech genius Nathan is a power lifting, semi-alcoholic unsurprisingly carrying something of a God complex. It is a surprisingly textured role that comes with a lot of dry humor. He adds a witty yet cynical sparkle to the film.
Alex Garland has already displayed his talents as a writer with efforts such as The Beach, 28 Days Later, Sunshine,Never Let Me Go and Dredd, and now extends that to direction with a confident debut. Together with cinematographer Rob Hardy and designer Jock, Ex Machina is visually stunning in a way complementary to the cerebral matter of the tale. Apt for the aesthetic and mood of the piece and an uncomplicated backdrop for the narrative to unfold. Beautifully shot exteriors, sleek interiors and a sense of minimalistic flair throughout. One scene, a dance between Nathan with his live-in assistant (Mizuno), shows off Garland’s abilities to cut loose and add some flair. Ex Machina may have the sheen of a blockbuster (in spite of costing less than $20 million) but it has the soul of a unrestrained and inventive independent film.
Ex Machina, like all sci-fi greats, weaves together style and substance into something memorable and affecting. Smart performances, a seductive protagonist and a compelling tale imbued with a surprisingly dark, witty streak. Alex Garland delivers cerebral sci-fi that is beautifully rendered and riveting throughout.