Alicia Vikander's Best Movie Is Still This 92%-Rated Sci-Fi Gem From Alex Garland
The film raises essential ethical questions about androids and cyborgs and establishes Garland as one of the most renowned directors of our time.
Alex Garland's directorial debut, Ex Machina, made waves in the Oscar race, earning a nomination for Best Screenplay. This subtle and precise sci-fi parable about a God complex gone too far remains one of the genre's finest works.
Oscar Isaac plays a smug scientist, Alicia Vikander portrays a robotic version of Frankenstein's monster, and Domhnall Gleeson plays a young programmer caught between them.
What Is 'Ex Machina' About?
Young programmer Caleb is invited by his tech genius boss, Nathan, to fly to his secluded residence tucked away in the woods. The reclusive billionaire has cut himself off from the world and calls in a specialist to test Ava, an android with artificial intelligence.
Caleb's task is to perform an advanced Turing test on Ava within a week to determine if she possesses consciousness.
However, the experiment quickly spirals out of control. Caleb realizes that Ava's consciousness has evolved far beyond the traditional human concept of robots.
'Ex Machina' Is a Nearly Perfect Sci-Fi Thriller That Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat
Garland's camera captures Ava's every movement and change in expression, leaving us to wonder: is she truly feeling something, or is she just faking it? Ava is both a vulnerable girl trapped in a cage and a dangerous predator willing to do anything to escape.
Alicia Vikander delivers a memorable performance – her portrayal of Ava is both charming and terrifying, her piercing gaze reaches the soul, and her movements are reminiscent of both human and puppet.
Oscar Isaac is also impeccable as Nathan, a narcissistic genius who plays God without realizing the consequences.
'Ex Machina' Boasts Scientific Accuracy and Philosophical Depth
Garland has created a story that makes us ponder the future of humanity. Modern AI systems are already capable of passing the Turing test and the director asks what will happen when we can no longer distinguish between humans and machines.
While there is virtually nothing to criticize in Garland's debut work, Ex Machina clearly conveys both a modest budget and limited scope. This would expand significantly in his subsequent films, Annihilation and Men.
However, it is precisely Ex Machina's intimacy that makes it so powerful – with only three actors, one location, and minimal special effects, you feel as if you're witnessing the most important scientific experiment in history.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Ex Machina'?
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Ex Machina has 92% from critics and 86% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.7/10.
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On Letterboxd, Ex Machina scored 4.0/5.0.
Where to Watch 'Ex Machina'?
Ex Machina is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.
