Alex Garland’s directorial debut is a stylish sci-fi flick that shows just what happens when men try to play God. The “28 Days Later” writer brings Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac. and Alicia Vikander together in “Ex Machina,” a high-tech feature that plays like a loose adaptation of “The Tempest.” Spanning over 108-minutes, “Ex Machina” marks A24’s first Academy Award for ‘Visual Effects,’ winning over films like “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens;” the latter happened to feature both Isaac and Gleeson also.
“Mother!” star Domhnall Gleeson gives a strong performance, starring as ingenuous programmer Caleb Smith. When Caleb must stay with Nathan Bateman (a narcissistic, reclusive CEO brought to life by a notable performance from Oscar Isaac), he soon discovers the purpose of his stay is to test a ground-breaking new AI known as Ava. “Tomb Raider’s” Alicia Vikander plays Ava, who’s performance as the synthetic humanoid is both chilling and inquisitive. However, as Ava becomes increasingly conscious—and her bond with Caleb grows—her path to freedom is progressively takes on deception and manipulation, leading to fatal consequences.
The Disconnect Between Technology and Man
“Ex Machina” explores the divide between technology and man; Garland shows viewers that when powerful men try to play God, more often than not, it ends in chaos, as shown in films like “I, Robot” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Despite its futuristic aesthetic, the film appears to draw influences from past theatrics like Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” as well as ‘Greek Tragedy’ theatre, as shown by the various masks placed along the wall in Nathan’s home. Even the film’s title draws from historic theatre; “Ex Machina” comes from the Latin phrase ‘Deus ex Machina’ which means ‘a god from the machine.’
The film also goes down the path of exploring artificial intelligence as a form of evolution; “I don’t see Ava as a decision, just an evolution” Nathan responds to Caleb’s questions about her. This haunting realisation shows how humans could be seen as obsolete as AI becomes more and more developed and aware
Alicia Vikander and Domhnall Gleeson in “Ex Machina.” Photo: A24.
Excellent Visuals Highlight ‘Ex Machina’s’ Stronger Aspects
The present-day setting of “Ex Machina” shows how close we could be to Ava existing, and the possible danger thereof. Rob Hardy’s sleek cinematography and Mark Digby’s contemporary production design provides the film with ultra-modern visuals that reflect the technology-focused plot. Considering the film only had a $15 million budget, “Ex Machina’s” visuals effects are spectacular, and the fact it beat out its competitors, all of which had budgets of over $100 million, makes it that much more impressive. The film also brings up the issue that whatever you search online is watched, recorded, and stored. In “Ex Machina’s” case, the trillions of searches help Nathan to develop Ava and create her persona.
Alex Garland brings viewers a polished sci-fi drama that features strong performances, sleek set design, and a superb script. “Ex Machina” is a triumphant first outing in the director’s chair for Garland; it leaves you on the edge of your seat by the time the credits roll.
“Ex Machina” is available to watch or rent from most streaming services.
