One of 2015's better movies and an usually smart science fictio screenplay

Rating: 8/10 (26 March 2016)

Alex Garland's directional debut sees a young programmer evaluating the human qualities of a humanoid robot. Ex Machina stands out among the many, more explosive science fiction films from 2015 simply because of how clever it is. Every meticulously written line is significant and every theme in what is a hugely complex picture is fully developed and explored. EM avoids easy answers and clichés, and makes for a full-on, disturbing, thought-provoking and fascinating exploration of artificial intelligence. While somewhat slow paced at times and occasionally confusing, this is a film which definitely stands out and deserves to be on the many Best of the Year lists it was placed on at the end of 2015. A minimalist picture, this leans heavily on Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson and Alicia Vikander. All deliver excellent performances, and Garland proves himself an intelligent director. It's not a 5 star movie, but it is definitely worth a look and is further enhanced by its dark, haunting tone which ensures that it gets under your skin and stays there. It's a very good drama, and presents a scientific yet deeply human look at androids.
8/10