Thought Provoking and Beautifully Filmed

Rating: 8/10 (30 April 2015)

"Ex Machina" is a thoughtful sci-fi film that raises questions about humanity and artificial intelligence. The pacing of the film--which is contemplative--might remind the viewer of "2001". As a result, there are opportunities for the viewer to question what, exactly, he is seeing. Some characters appear to be dishonest, so it is reasonable to wonder what is true and what is a lie.
The tone of the film, which I think is a major component of its viewing experience, is reminiscent of portions of "Blade Runner". The music contributes greatly to this impression. And the film investigates some of the same questions about humanity and self-perception.
Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) is selected to conduct an interesting experiment in artificial intelligence. His employer, Nathan (Oscar Isaac), brings him to a remote location to conduct the test over a week. We, as newcomers to the facility like Caleb, experience the happenings mostly through his eyes. We approach the same questions about those happenings as Caleb. We can only see what the writer/director allows us to see, just as the characters in the film can only perceive what their senses allow them to perceive, subject to the limitations imposed by circumstance.
This is a beautifully photographed film that envelopes the viewer and leaves him in thought. It is well worth seeing.