Hi everyone!
Alex Garland is one of my favorite creators in the business, mostly because he has one of my favorite filmographies. His credits include quite a few films that seem to resonate with me on some level, even if the critics weren’t always so kind. I was stoked to finally catch his first film as writer/director this vacation, especially after being blown away earlier this year by his more recent effort, “Annihilation” (Episode #400). Be sure to check out that review. And for two other AI-related reviews, check out our reviews for “Upgrade” (Episode #155) and the Netflix Original “Tau” (Episode #181).
Make sure to subscribe to stay current with all our reviews, and connect with us over social media to continue the conversation. Details in the closing.
Enjoy!
/////
Today’s movie is “Ex Machina”, the small cast near-future science-fiction thriller written and directed by Alex Garland. The film follows Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), who is chosen by a corporate lottery to work with its CEO Nathan (Oscar Isaac), on a secret project in a remote laboratory. Upon arriving, he’s asked to evaluate an artificial intelligence designated Ava (Alicia Vikander), and stumbles into a much larger game being played. Alicia Vikander received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 2016 Golden Globes. Alex Garland received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay and “Ex Machina” won the Best Visual Effects award at the 2016 Oscars.
No spoilers.
Science fiction has always been a speculative genre. From the outrageous ideas of Jules Verne, to the written renaissance of the 1950 and 1960s, to the explosion in science-fiction fandom on both the small and large screens, in short stories, novels, and graphic novels. It can cover current technologies, or the promises and perils of near-future and far-future technologies. It is arguably the one genre that continues to tell new stories, especially as our understanding of the world increases and expands, and even more so as the pace of that understanding accelerates. However, it’s not the technologies or insights that take center stage, but how those ideas impact us as people, and probably more importantly, the societies in which we live. And one of those technologies, which threatens or promises massive change is artificial intelligence.
“Ex Machina” is an expansion and re-evaluation of artificial intelligence for the modern age. Early depictions of artificial intelligence include characters such as Hal in “2001” (1968) and the androids in “Westworld” (1973), through the blockbuster franchises of “Alien” and “Terminator” in the 1980s and 1990s, and of course, the aptly titled “A.I.”. “Ex Machina” not only utilizes these earlier depictions, but Garland also leverages the amazing strides in artificial intelligence as an expanded science and as a practical part of our society, then takes us a little further down the rabbit hole.
Perhaps the best part about “Ex Machina” is how well it plays with scope. On the one hand, we’re treated to an incredible small cast film, which has an excellent cast and strong performances by the three major characters. All three have gone on to have outstanding careers, both in major franchises and other independent films. I would argue that Domhnall Gleeson was finally able to put any ideas of Bill Weasley to bed. Vikander does an amazing job with such a difficult role, complimented very much by the incredible visual effects used to flawlessly render her semi-android body costume. Isaac’s Nathan is annoyingly pompous, like most entitled tech billionaires seem to be, assuredly in control of everything around him, and perhaps just a little too over-the-top. Garland makes the most of the incredible remote setting, so well that when they’re inside, you can feel the claustrophobia among the characters, and the few times they are outside end up feeling like such a relief.
However, on the other hand, we’re also treated to depth of the ideas at play within the script. The viewer comes to understand the great social upheaval that will come with an expanded integration of artificial intelligence. Each evaluation session between Caleb and Ava shows the frightening relatability of artificial intelligence, and the discussions outside of those sessions between Caleb and Nathan explore the near-future possibilities, and risks, of artificial intelligence. The story scope is small, but the ideas are huge, and Garland does an excellent job balancing the two. The result is nothing short of spectacular for a science fiction fan like myself.
“Ex Machina” is a near-future science fiction thriller, exploring modern ideas about artificial intelligence. The small cast and big ideas come together into a film that sets a new standard for artificial intelligence films. Science fiction fans, or fans of near-future speculation, should definitely check out this film.
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% (CERTIFIED FRESH)
Metacritic: 78
One Movie Punch: 9.4/10
“Ex Machina” (2014) is rated Rand is currently playing on Netflix and Kanopy.
