A Thoughtful, Well-Acted, Multi-Layered Sci-fi

Rating: 9/10 (10 February 2015)

Does artificial intelligence have a consciousness? This is the question that 'Ex Machina' probes us throughout and does so with immediacy and great effect. The film is essentially a parable on technology and its evolution, which acts as a warning for the human race not to become too dependent on machines.
'Ex Machina' does not waste time, as soon as the logos have evapourated we fleetingly see the face of Caleb played by Domhnall Gleeson with curiosity and a will above all else for the truth. He wins a competition and is whisked away to Nathan's private facility where he is creating the first ever working Artificial Intelligence System. Caleb is brought there to figure out whether the AI acts and thinks like a human and whether she has passed Nathan's test of having her own consciousness. Oscar Isaac again impresses as the genius computer coder Nathan, even if his role is fairly minor compared to his other more influential body of work. At the remote facility Caleb is introduced to the AI known as Ava. She is played by Alicia Vikander with authority and control. In the films darkest moments she really is sinister and her presence is not as soothing as it once was.
I may as well get over with what I disliked about the film, which is a very minor factor indeed. Within the first ten minutes we are introduced to Nathan. I would have liked to have seen how Caleb interacts with his co-workers in his job, which would give us a better comparison between his interaction with humans and the relationship he builds up with Ava. It is not enough to find out that he does not have a girlfriend. I realised I was in need of something more and this interaction would have provided me with it. But I have a tendency to nit-pick and this did not detract from my overall experience in the slightest.
The film itself feels withdrawn and held back but in a good way. As the three main characters are impressive and none of them let down the production at all, the casting choices must be commended. I could not help but feel that the Director and Writer, Alex Garland has been heavily influenced by the likes of David Fincher. The film has a very precise and pinpoint accuracy to it. None of the choices made, feel like they were easy ones or done without thought. Every element feels calculated and for a film like 'Ex Machina' it benefits and compliments the tone perfectly. The film is many things; thought provoking, fast paced and completely compelling. I still cannot stop but think about this film and its intricacies, it has been almost a week. It sticks embedded into my brain and lingers there around my thoughts. I wonder is it long before we actually develop an AI? The thought still terrifies me.
'Ex Machina' never comes to a halt for too long. It trusts its audience and will not give them the easy way out. This means that every fifteen minutes it mixes things up. This ensures that it is always compelling. The relationship dynamic between Ava and Caleb is intriguing. One has never been outside the walls of her room, the other is in need of companionship. What makes it have a driving force is that they both rely on each other for their certain needs. The computer generated images blend seamlessly within the film and never draw too much attention to themselves apart from the fact that they look gorgeous and are guaranteed to dazzle the eye of even the most cynical film goer. Technology really has come a long way this past decade, but perhaps this film will encourage people to not get too carried away.
Even the music brings back fond memories of Trent Reznor and Attitcus Ross' scores for 'The Social Network' and 'Gone Girl' both of which are David Fincher films. The two collaborators for 'Ex Machina' racket up the tension to unprecedented levels. The sound is very electronic and machine like. It questions the audience as to whether Nathan can be trusted and also is Ava as vulnerable as she has led Caleb to believe. The film's cinematography looks cold but has an elegance to it. It is strange to see a film so visually stunning from Alex Garland who is a first time film maker.
The story is made all the more cohesive by the way it is structured. As with every scene with Ava and Caleb, text appears, reminding the audience what session number it is. It keeps the film easier to follow and means that we are never too puzzled or lost.
With 'Ex Machina' Alex Garland proves himself to be a worthy Director and Writer. He is in my mind about to become the greatest film maker since David Fincher, if he can keep up this high quality of work. For a first feature Garland accomplishes many things that long term Directors still to this day fail to do. Dazzling camera work, compelling story-telling and above all a focus for characters and what makes them tick. For Garland this signals a calling card of the highest order and cements this work as one of the best first features for a very long time indeed. One thing is for sure Scorsese, Tarantino and Nolan, watch your backs. Cinema is about to change forever.