Profound, tense and sleek.

Rating: 8/10 (23 June 2015)

Alex Garland is one of the most talented genre writers of the 2000s thus far. I skipped Dredd and Never Let Me Go, but I've always loved his work with Danny Boyle in Sunshine and 28 Days Later. They're pretty seminal movies for me in memorable cinema experiences. He handles big concepts on a small scale to keep them focused, compelling and thought- provoking. As a result, he's lucky to have the opportunity to finally direct with his finest work yet. We live in a world where A.I. has gone from fantasy to reality as most of us have Siri in our pocket. Ex Machina ups the ante, focusing entirely on how close to human our robots can get. Alicia Vikander delivers on her promises this year with a sensitive and nuanced performance as Ava. It's a character that relies on the slightest of details and she balances it marvelously, if resulting in a very subtle performance. Oscar Isaac steals the show with his disarming affability, providing a lightness to the film that helps it bounce along. Despite its simple dynamics, it's cinematic enough to not feel like a bloated short, shot in polished wide warped angles. It does have a habit of releasing tension too early letting its time pass quickly, but it's a profound film that constantly keeps you on your toes.
8/10