Review of Ex Machina (2015) by Jcasetnl — 07 May 2015

Deviates from the usual over-the-top, bombastic, CG-everywhere treatment that sci-fi gets these days, and attempts some basic philosophical questions about consciousness and existence, but it comes up a little short on cleverness and entertainment.

Some scenes drag out way too long. The dialogue isn't quite nuanced or profound enough for the headiness of its philosophy. Oscar Isaac isn't wholy convincing in his Steve Jobs-like role. The payoff is also lukewarm and predictable.

All in all it's a little sad that for its un-hollywood-ness it gets default praise, but once we get over that "novelty" there is just an okay story left over.