"Ex Machina" is an intriguing thriller with good acting work as well as an unexpected ending. It has nothing in common with blockbusters as it may seem by the first glance of the poster or trailer. Initially this movie seemed to me like a cheap second-class fantastic movie without pretensions to artistic value. Fortunately, I was wrong. It is much more profound than most modern films on the theme of artificial intelligence. It captures the attention of the audience from the first minutes by the means of the stunning scenery, light sweet music, good humor, colorful characters and sort of uncertainty on the question what is this movie really about and how to treat it - as an ordinary thriller with hints of drama or something more refined.
Acting parts were played out flawlessly. I was impressed by an excellent actress Alicia Vikander - so perfectly entered into the image, she used the facial expressions so skilfully that it was impossible not to believe. The looks, head movements, gait - everything was managed perfectly. Alice was able to create a beautiful sensual image that imprints in the memory. Even though the role is not from the category of highly complex, but I cannot imagine another actress who would have performed it better. Nathan played by Oscar Isaac, bald and bearded, brutal, mysterious, cocky, sometimes funny, sometimes frightening character, is an interesting addition to the movie. Domhnall Gleeson, who performed the part of the human component of the Turing test, did not require any outstanding acting skills, but in the end he was also able to shine.
In general, this is really an impressive directorial debut of Alex Garland, writer of such movies as “28 Days Later”, “Sunshine" and “Dredd”. The atmosphere of a secret experimental laboratory with all its mystery and ambiguity was created very well. Intriguing, provocative, frightening, beautiful and unusual robot movie, which is certainly worth the time of viewers tired from Hollywood common predictable films.
Works Cited
Ex Machina. Dir. Alex Garland. Perf. Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac. Universal Pictures International, 2015. Film.
