Review of Ex Machina (2015) by Odjento — 09 Jun 2015

Alex Garland has created an exceptional directorial debut here with Ex Machina, scoring many high notes all throughout the film.

Ex Machina is a film talking about issues that are very prevalent in our current time, with much thought out and well written philosophy in the film to make it an interesting read by itself, let alone a film. The issues are kind of looking at what skynet in the terminator franchise was like except in a more subtle and no where near as destructive way. The questions arise; do we trust technology too much? Will it be what ultimately destroys us and takes over us but only as a part of evolution? With how we are taught to dedicate ourselves to certain things are we any more human than a robot with a thought process, do we both lack a sort of empathy for humans? Yes, this film is a thinker.

The film is acted brilliantly (partly in due to brilliant writing of the characters by Garland) with only a cast of 4 people, 3 of which have dialogue. The tension between Gleeson and Isaac's characters is a sight to behold as you feel stuck in the claustrophobic utopia of Isaac's abode. There is a constant threat of who is telling the truth and who isn't throughout along with the feeling that you are being left in the dark whist watching.

However, certain issues I found with the film were these. The pacing, whilst not bad at all, was monotonous. It literally struck one note, the pacing staying the same throughout which wasn't a bad pace but never really made you feel you'd reached the climax of the film at any point. I also found the ending a little too open, not really having a full(ish) resolution at the conclusion, which left me feeling a little empty.

One other thing to note, the sound design for this film was just glorious to listen to, my ears tuned in on every sound in the film all the time.

Definitely worth the watch for our upcoming Star Wars actors and for it's impressive philosophy.