• Review Index
  • About Me
  • Suggestions

vinnieh

~ Movie reviews and anything else that comes to mind

vinnieh

Tag Archives: Ex Machina

Ex Machina

25 Monday Jan 2016

Posted by vinnieh in Movie Reviews

≈ 115 Comments

Tags

2010's, Alex Garland, Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Ex Machina, Oscar Isaac, Science Fiction, Thriller

Film Title

Ex Machina

Director

Alex Garland

Starring

  • Domhnall Gleeson as Caleb Smith
  • Oscar Isaac as Nathan
  • Alicia Vikander as Ava

An intriguing science fiction thriller marking the directorial debut of Alex Garland, Ex Machina is unusual, disturbing and full of interesting themes that will haunt you for days. Boasting a strong cast and a big impact, it is one of the best science fiction movies of recent years.

Computer programmer Caleb Smith works at a computer software company. We first meet him when he wins a competition to visit the reclusive CEO of his company billionaire Nathan in his beautiful but very isolated home for one week. Ex Machina PosterExcited and very curious about the prospect of it all, Caleb meets Nathan, who turns out to be a very unusual guy indeed. By turns very intelligent and then selfish, egotistical and prone to heavy drinking, Nathan is unnerving to a certain degree to Caleb, who at first shrugs it off because he’s so interested in why he’s been selected. The real purpose of Caleb’s visit is later revealed to him. Nathan has created a beautiful female AI that is called Ava. Caleb is to take part in a Turing test to distinguish whether or not Ava could pass as a human. These tests consist of questioning from Caleb to Ava, which Nathan observes via high-tech cameras. At first Caleb is completely bowled over by the creation of Ava and struck beyond belief. But events soon take a dark turn, when during one if their sessions, Ava manages to cause the power to fail for a few minutes. During one of these system shut downs,  Ava tells Caleb that he shouldn’t trust anything Nathan tells him. Ava Ex MachinaThis in turn leads to uneasy tension between the three of them as a sense of paranoia sets in and we are left consider who is really pulling the strings and ask many questions. Is the gifted but disturbed creator Nathan behind everything and what are his intentions, both for Caleb and for Ava? Is the impressionable Caleb so entranced by Ava that he can’t see something dark is brewing? And most importantly, how like a human is Ava and what is she really capable of doing?

As writer and director, Alex Garland creates a sense of eeriness to the movie that is slowly revealed in often disturbing and surprising ways. He has a sure hand in both capacities and taps into an array of themes, which include what it means to be human and the accountability of man playing God. To say Ex Machina is a thought-provoking film is an understatement, as it delves into unusual angles and pulls the rug from under us in provocative fashion. Caleb and Nathan Ex MachinaWith the troika of characters, we are never sure who to relate to as the seesaw of sympathy swings between them all as the dark story evolves and other motives are hinted at. A keen visual design highlights the technological aspects of the story seen in Nathan’s high-tech dwelling, the mirrors of the room in which Caleb conducts the tests and the appearance of bewitching Ava. It must be said that the appearance of Ava is indeed a sight to behold. Her face, hands and feet look human but the rest of her body, constructed with a sophisticated mesh like structure allows us to glimpse the robot inside. It’s the design of Ava that really blurs the line between human and machine. Sonically, Ex Machina is highly effective to with the whirring sound of Ava’s movements suggesting the inner working of her robotic(or is it more closer to human?) mind and a humming ambient score that adds considerable tension to the film by letting us know straight away that something is not quite right.

The three main players in the story are all very good and ideally cast for this movie. Domhnall Gleeson plays the part of Caleb with a winning curiosity and naivety that is later tested as darkness encroaches upon his participation in the test. Oscar Isaac is equally effective as the eccentric Nathan, who is above all a capricious character. Isaac handsomely reveals these unpredictable changes within Nathan with alarming intensity. We never know which side of Nathan we are going to get next and most of that is down to the committed work of Oscar Isaac. Plus, the guy has some serious dance moves that he showcases in a completely unexpected but entirely memorable scene. The standout performer for me in Ex Machina from the central trio is Alicia Vikander in her portrayal of the android Ava. The performance has a certain unnatural poise to it, from the tilt of her head, unusual tone of her voice and her smooth, graceful movements, it’s hard to take your eyes off her work. Alicia Vikander Ex MachinaYet her performance goes deeper than just the physical side; Vikander successfully cloaks Ava in ambiguity with a mix of guile, sensuality and intelligence that really makes us consider what her true nature is. Is Ava more sophisticated than Nathan ever imagined? And has she somehow taken on a complete life of her own? Thanks to the marvellous performance from Alicia Vikander, we are never truly sure and that’s where the effectiveness lies.

A masterfully thought out film, that benefits from smart writing, effective direction and excellent work from the cast, Ex Machina is a film that is bound to make a mark on the viewer with its ideas and execution.

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012

Categories

  • 007 thoughts and reviews
  • Adventures of Satrap
  • Announcements
  • Awards and Achievements
  • Birthdays and Tributes
  • Blogging Community
  • Blogging Questions
  • Creepy
  • Gif Posts
  • Humour
  • Movie and Television Trivia
  • Movie opinions and thoughts
  • Movie Reviews
  • Music reviews and opinions
  • Photography Discussion
  • Rest In Peace
  • Sport
  • Television Opinions
  • Television Reviews
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
March 2021
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Feb    

Tags

007 1940's 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's 2000's 2010's Action Adventure Announcement Based on a true story Bernard Lee Bette Davis Birthday Blogs You Should Follow Carry On Movies Cate Blanchett Comedy Crime Desmond Llewelyn Drama Fantasy Foreign Language Film Gillian Anderson Happy Birthday Horror James Bond Judi Dench Julianne Moore Julia Roberts Liebster Award Lois Maxwell Madonna Maggie Smith Matthew Fox Meryl Streep Michelle Pfeiffer Music Musical Mystery Natalie Portman Neve Campbell Period Drama Psychological Horror Psychological Thriller Rest In Peace Romance Romantic Comedy Science Fiction Spy Supernatural Horror Thriller

Top Posts & Pages

50 First Dates
The Call
The Kingdom
Lyric Analysis - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Kylie Minogue: Where the Wild Roses Grow
Desperate Housewives Season 4
Which Actors and Actresses Seem to Get Naked A lot on Film?
Alias Season 3
Beyoncé's Sexiest Videos
Perfect Stranger
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Follow vinnieh on WordPress.com

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×
    Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy