Ex Machina (2015) - Film Review
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Glesson & Oscar Isaac
Screenplay: Alex Garland
Directed By: Alex Garland
Certificate: 15
Artificial
intelligence and how increasingly advanced and independent it's
becoming, seems to be a hot topic for debate right now. Looking at
the news, we can see stories of very human-like robots that are
capable of having their own conversations with us, and almost every
year, new breakthroughs are reached to make them even more human.
While it's easy to admire the skill and craft that it requires for
programmers to create AI, it's also an area of controversy and
philosophical dispute, as shown to us in the sci-fi thriller Ex
Machina.
Young
programmer Caleb Smith wins a work competition for a week-long stay
at the luxury home of company CEO, Nathan Bateman. When he arrives at
Nathan's isolated home, he soon learns of the humanoid robot Nathan
has created with artificial intelligence, Ava. Nathan wants Caleb to
perform a complex Turing test with Ava, to see if she can feel
genuine thought, emotion and consciousness. But as each session with
Ava progresses, Caleb finds himself growing closer towards her and
going down a route where he may never be able to return...
In
many ways, Ex Machina is a rich, complex and
multi-layered film, but broken down to its basics, it has a very
simple plot at its heart. In fact, there are times where it can
remind me of watching a stageplay – you have just a handful of
characters, a limited number of settings and a pace that depends on
and moves with its heavy amounts of dialogue. But despite its
simplistic premise, Ex Machina is still a film that
gives an audience plenty to chew on and to think about, posing a
variety of philosophical questions. Like I've said, these are
primarily concerned with artificial intelligence and the role it may
have in our futures. What makes us human? Can AI ever truly
experience humanity or merely simulate it? And if AI can experience
humanity, what makes us different from them, and are we equal?
Further still, Ex Machina has interesting stuff to
offer beyond the implications of AI, such as exploring the roles and
stereotypes of men and women in society. Even away from the
philosophy, this is a film that doesn't fall under a single banner of
definition – while most of the time it's a thoughtful sci-fi piece,
sometimes it can become a dark comedy, or in the scenes shared by Ava
and Caleb, a sweet, if unconventional romance film.
It's
worth noting however that Ex Machina is a slow-burner
of a film, and that this kind of pace may not be able to suit
everyone's tastes. Personally speaking, the film comes with enough
fascinating ideas, suspense, twists and turns to keep me hooked for
its runtime, but if you're looking for action and fast-paced
spectacle, then you won't find much here. To some extent, the film
doesn't help itself out of this predicament thanks to its runtime.
It's not exactly monstrously long at nearly one hour fifty minutes,
but it may have benefited from being edited down a little more, and
maybe even give us a scene or two that builds more on the
relationship between Nathan and Ava.
However,
something Ex Machina gets entirely right is its
production design. Alex Garland makes his directorial debut, and this
is one of the strongest debuts you could ask for. This is a sleek,
sophisticated and incredibly polished production on almost every
level. Everything from the movement of the camera, to the set design,
to the lighting just reminds me of the feeling you get from when you
first use a new phone, and for a brief while it feels like you're
staring at the future. The lack of any windows and the varied shades
of non-natural light in Nathan's home, as well as the minimal use of
exterior shots, sells the film's focus on the artificial. Ava herself
is a remarkable visual creation, and the level of detail in the
circuitry, mechanics and other transparent areas of her body is
certainly impressive. The film features plenty of haunting and even
downright disturbing moments, and the production often compliments
this perfectly. (Spoiler Warning!) For example, a scene
towards the end of the film shows one of the characters being
stabbed, and rather than it being played out melodramatically, the
way the knife slides in so quietly and effortlessly as if it were
going through butter, is just chilling. Alternatively, there's the
revelation of what Nathan uses his creations for, and what lengths
they go to to end it, which is just as unsettling.
A
film like Ex Machina is only as strong as its trio of
performances, and I'm happy to say that Alicia Vikander, Domhnall
Gleeson and Oscar Isaac all impress. Domhnall Gleeson's performance
as Caleb makes him someone very easy to like, and we are in his
footsteps as we adjust and take in our very unfamiliar surroundings.
Caleb undergoes quite the character arc over the course of the film,
progressing and hardening into someone that's an intellectual match
for Nathan, and to a point where he's capable of outsmarting him. Not
to spoil too much, but I will say that Caleb's eventual fate honestly
left me broken... Meanwhile, Oscar Isaac proves once again that he
has one of the most variable faces on the planet, and could
convincingly play any role. He's able to balance many sides to his
character, but always does an excellent job at making every scene
between Nathan and Caleb feel uncomfortable, thus ramping up the
suspense. However, while both actors impress, it's Alicia Vikander
that completely steals the show as Ava. Ava is a much more physical
role, and Alicia Vikander doesn't put a foot wrong. The graceful,
calculated movements of her face and body are constantly on point,
and she definitely brings a wide-eyed wonder and curiosity to the
character. The performance goes a long way in investing the audience
in this character, and rather like AI itself, it's fascinating to
watch Ava. One scene sees her trying on a wig and human clothes, and
seeing this android learning and suddenly appearing much more
human-like makes for absorbing viewing.
To
my mind, AI is almost like fire – it's easy to find it hypnotic,
but it's also dangerous and if you get too close, you get burnt. It's
for this reason that I find the ending of Ex Machina to
be such a fantastic one that should stick in the minds of and give
audiences plenty to consider. Again, it's unlikely to satisfy
everyone, as it leaves a fair amount of plot threads hanging and
relies somewhat on ambiguity. However, the vast amount of ways it can
be interpreted is what makes it, in my opinion, such a good ending.
Personally, I view Ex Machina's ending as a warning
against the dangers of AI, as well as an answer to a question that
has been with us throughout the film: Did Ava ever really feel
anything towards Caleb, or just simulating it to enable her own
escape? (Spoiler Warning!) Ava leaving the facility and
briefly being show unnoticed as part of human society, is a warning
about how AI has the potential to become so sophisticated that it can
pass as being human, and how AI can manipulate us for their own
benefit and eventually turn on us. Now this isn't the only way of
interpreting the ending; there are many more, and because we can read
so much into it, that's why it ends on such a high note.
Overall,
Alex Garland makes his directorial debut with style in Ex
Machina: a film packed with intrigue and suspense. It isn't a
film that sentimentalizes or holds your hand, but one that offers a
cold, unforgiving yet entirely plausible look at what the future may
hold. Featuring three stunning lead performances from its main cast,
including what I hope will be a breakout performance for Alicia
Vikander, sublime production design, and the ability to stick in your
mind long after watching, Ex Machina is one of the best
films in its genre so far this year.
Ex Machina
8/10