Ex Machina (2015) review

Commercial poster with Alicia Vikander as Ava

It's almost midnight, that's rad, let's review this masterpiece. Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), an employee working at Bluebook, wins a raffle to test an A.I. built by the company's CEO Nathan (Oscar Isaac). Overwhelmed by going to the estate of one of the most successful men of the time Caleb is in a dreamland while he is stopped far away from the house, by the helicopter pilot, Jay (Corey Johnson) and is told the helicopter can't get closer than a certain distance. The test turns out to be a Turing Test in which Caleb has to test the A.I. named Ava (Alicia Vikander), but it turns out Ava was way more than she was cut out to be.

Sonoya Mizuno as Kyoto and Nathan tearing down the dance floor

Spoiler Alert from this point and on

Spoiler alert is necessary because this is a fantastic movie and needs to be seen in full. Last warning, here's my spoiler-filled opinion. This movie was fantastic, It progresses at its own pace, Which is methodical, opportunist and smart. It is also one of those movies you either get or don't. In the beginning, Jay tells Caleb that he can't get closer than a certain parameter which immediately gives the movie some mystery. Nathan's character is pretty interesting and dark but his perspective on A.I. is something I can relate with. This movie's ending basically outlines the difference of mankind and A.I. Emotions and a conscience which Ava lacks which lets her use Caleb as a pawn even though he falls for her. Overall the ending was completely justified. This is one of the finest directorial debuts of all time, hats off to Alex Garland for this piece of fine art.