Sci-fi with a pulse

Rating: 8/10 (30 April 2015)

"Ex Machina" has young computer programmer Caleb invited to the remote estate of a genius search engine mogul, Nathan, who has created a full-bodied artificial intelligence in the form of a young woman. There, Caleb is put through a series of interactive tests with the A.I., named Ava, though Nathan's intentions are duly called into question.
Like the bulk of contemporary science fiction, "Ex Machina" tackles the bridge between humanity and machinery and spins the ever-evolving question of what actually constitutes life, and although neither of these concepts are particularly new to cinema (especially sci- fi), director Alex Garland's presentation of the material truly makes the film stand out from its peers.
The pacing is the real heartbeat of the film, progressing with a steady rhythm that allows subtleties to creep in over time. There is a definite meditative nature about the film, with the cold interiors of Nathan's postmodern mansion and Ava's elaborate machinery starkly contrasted with the overwhelming exterior photography of rolling mountains and glacial landscapes. The interior shots and camera-work evoke Stanley Kubrick and "The Stepford Wives" in equal spades, being both visually appealing and quietly uneasy.
Domhnall Gleeson leads the film as the naive, analytical programmer, while Oscar Isaac is a one-man show as his counterpart— a tortured and sardonic mathematical genius at the helm of the scientific development. Alicia Vikander embodies the enigmatic as well as the robotic, and finds a fine balance between them. The disturbing conclusion to the film ties its philosophical message into a packaged whole without being overt or preachy.
Overall, I found "Ex Machina" to be very well-crafted. I am not one who usually enjoys science fiction on the whole, but "Ex Machina" is not exactly your standard sci-fi film either. It's very quiet, very dialogue-driven, but the atmospheric qualities that come with its visuals and thematics make for an eloquent and well-thought semi-thriller. 8/10.