Alex Garland's Ex Machina is one of the finest original sci-fi films in years and stands as one of the best movies of 2015 so far.
Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac turn in fine performances as the two main leads. Gleeson stars as a young web programmer named Caleb who is selected to participate in an experiment with artificial intelligence created by his boss Nathan (Isaac). The rub is that Caleb must evaluate the human qualities of a beautiful female A.I. named Ava (a star-making turn by Alicia Vikander) whom he eventually starts falling for.
As the erotic tension between Caleb and Ava ratchets up, it's hard for the audience not to be equally taken by Vikander in her performance as the A.I. She's subtle and smart and comes off as the truest cinematic representation of beauty and brains this side of Miss Moneypenny. Ava's an innocent victim by design, but in the way Vikander plays her, you get the sense that she could excel at literally anything. Equal parts love, awe, curiosity and fury are visible in Vikander's eyes and mannerisms at any given moment. The role couldn't have been played more perfectly. If this is any indication, the actress has a long, prosperous career and a shelf full of awards ahead of her.
Writer/first-time director Alex Garland shows tremendous skill and promise as a visual storyteller. The cinematography is breathtaking and the narrative taught. I couldn't find much to complain about with this slow-burning thriller that evokes the best emotions of Blade Runner and Her in a story that still feels entirely original.
A
No comments:
Post a Comment