Ex Machina takes place over the course
of one week, following a young programmer named Caleb who has won a contest to
stay at the estate of Nathan, his genius boss, in remote Alaska. Once there, he
finds out that the real reason he was invited is to test an incredibly advanced
robot, called Ava, to see if Nathan has invented true artificial intelligence.
In many ways, this movie’s design seems simple; for example, after the first
few minutes, only four actors appear on screen, one of whom never even speaks.
The small cast works to the movie’s advantage, however, as it creates an
isolated atmosphere that can be sometimes intimate, sometimes claustrophobic.
Ex Machina has been nominated for an
Oscar in visual effects. The key to the film’s visual success is contrast. The
lush, vibrant green of the Alaskan wilderness outside is juxtaposed with the
sterile inside of the “research facility” that also serves as Nathan’s home. This
contrast is further evident during power surges, in which everything turns an
eerie, ominous red. Additionally, the effects used to show Ava’s part humanoid,
part robotic body are particularly impressive. The movie also uses a variety of
camera techniques. There are many two-shots, emphasizing the relationships
between the film’s few characters. The shots that especially stood out to me
were those that included Caleb on one side of the glass and Ava on the other. Because
most of the movie revolves around conversation, there are also a fair amount of
over-the-shoulder shots.
Ex Machina has also been nominated for
an Oscar for writing for an original screenplay. This film’s writing is
top-notch, as it manages to create an edge-of-your-seat thriller out of a movie
with very few characters that is almost entirely based on conversation (there
is relatively little action for most of the movie). The movie has a fascinating
premise that forces the viewer to really think about the nature of
consciousness and what it means to be human. Although primarily about the
relationships between humans and machines, this movie can be more broadly
placed into the category of man vs. nature. It poses questions about the
ethical and practical implications of the creation of artificial intelligence.
Ex
Machina is a sci-fi thriller that’s as intellectually stimulating as it is
visually impressive. 4.5/5
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