No matter where people go nowadays, it is almost impossible to not encounter some form of artificial intelligence. Whether it's simply Siri on an iPhone or a humanoid representation in pop culture, AI will continue to populate our current world: which baffles me as to how such a simple script and premise of a film could encapsulate this expansive idea of AI so incredibly well. Alex Garland's Ex Machina is a stupendous science-fiction film that not only inspires but warns about the presence of artificial intelligence in our everyday lives. While there are so many questions surrounding this film and possible themes or messages to take from it, what I absolutely adored the most was how simplistic its story was. The excellent performances and unsettling atmosphere helped to elevate this film to become as impactful as it was, but it all comes down to the execution and I do not think any other filmmaker of today has tackled this subject with as much elegance as Garland.
Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), a professional coder and employee at one of the world's largest software companies, wins a contest to spend a week with the company's CEO, Nathan (Oscar Isaac). Soon upon his arrival, Caleb finds out that he has been chosen to participate in Nathan's newest project, a Turing test of the newest and most lifelike artificial intelligence named Ava (Alicia Vikander). After Caleb starts to fall for Ava and learns more about Nathan's true incentives, he finds out that he might be a part of a more deceptive plan. The only thing I knew of this film for a few years now was the speculation that it was an absolute game-changer in the genre of science-fiction storytelling. I thought that this movie would be an incredibly deep or introspective story to challenge my mind or even just mess with it, but I was taken aback by how simple the plot actually was. This film follows the main character as he falls for Ava and then eventually the tables are turned and she was the one playing them the entire time. I found this plot to be very basic but actually effective more than anything. This film really did not need to be anything more than simple, as Garland is able to get his point across with his graceful, stunning direction. This film is undeniably solid and Garland takes his script to the next level by balancing it with its other elements very well. There is plenty of great humor throughout this movie that I was surprised by and the authentic chemistry between Gleeson and Isaac is palpable. Garland utilizes their friendship and the relationship between Caleb and Ava to set his audience up for a fantastic third act that, while a tad predictable, is executed perfectly. I also loved the message behind this film and how there are a number of different things that people could get from this story. Garland really knows how to make an engaging sci-fi film that still manages to make people question what they might know.
While Garland's script for Ex Machina is a thing of beauty, the performances from the entire cast and visual effects make for one hell of a futuristic experience. Gleeson and Isaac are both great and play some characters typically out of the realm of their usual type of casting. The obvious star of this film, however, is Vikander as Ava. Her portrayal of this conflicted artificial woman was superb and the way that she embodies this character is extraordinary. Vikander utilizes the perfect amount of human acting and entirely robotic mannerisms to really bring Ava to life (pun intended). Her extremely lifelike yet still noticeable mechanicality is mesmerizing and she somehow convinced even me that she could be a robot. Everything from minute facial movements to just the way that she interacts with new things to learn how to be more human is incredible. I can not rave enough at how much her performance really makes this movie and her story arc is just as incredible. The plot twist that she was basically the one running the tests to manipulate Caleb and Nathan made for such an interesting ending and I strangely could not help but to root for her. Seeing her grow and having wants and needs like a human makes the conclusion so satisfying. This entire film felt like a long episode of Black Mirror with much better production value and the way that Garland handles everything is masterful. Along with his storytelling, the Oscar-winning visual effects are spectacular and look gorgeous. Ava's AI body and her transformation throughout the film looked very real and was exhibited in such a way that is not unlike some stuff we have already seen in our real world. This is what made the film work for me so well because while sci-fi is mostly seen as otherworldly and unrealistic, this movie did not seem too far off from advancements that we have been witness to, ultimately making Ava's fate and introduction into our world even more terrifying.
Ex Machina is a film that I will not soon forget and one that will definitely have me questioning the often robotic people present in my life. Vikander turns in one of the absolute best performances of her career as Ava and the terrifying wonder that surrounds the entirety of Nathan's compound makes this entire story unforgettable. Garland proves that with futuristic simplicity comes some of the most haunting stories imaginable and the idea that some artificial intelligence has reached the level of being indistinguishable from humans is a horrifying thought in itself.
My Rating: ★★★★½
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