Man vs Machine: A Fight for Identity

Rating: 9/10 (16 October 2018)

Ex Machina is a tour de force telling the story of Caleb Smith, an unassuming programmer who is chosen to perform a Turing test on a newly created, secret A.I. The film breathes life into the age old question, "what are the implications of Artificial Intelligence?" Ex Machina provides a smorgasbord of answers through Rob Hardy's stunning true color cinematography. Writer and director Alex Garland guides his cast excellently. He demonstrates his understanding of story pacing. His only sin is setting the bar too high for his next masterpiece.
This is not a movie you can afford to miss. Ex Machina passes its own Turing test. That is, after encountering this work of art, the viewer believes the story was fact rather than fiction. Swedish actress Alicia Vikander proves her merit on the stage. She seamlessly melts into her AI character Ava. Domnhall Gleeson also naturally commands the body of the shy and awkward programmer.
Ex Machina may masquerade as a story of what A.I. will do to us, but it in reality, it asks us who we are on a personal level. Are we a good species built on ambition and morality? Or are we selfish fighters who grasp at a chance for a better life? This film does not offer an indisputable reply, but it will make you slightly more aware.