A24In an era of cinema where science fiction more often than not equates to loud explosions and dumb plotting it's entirely refreshing to sit down and watch a film like Ex Machina. It's a perfect example of just how effectively interesting concepts can be put on the screen without a huge budget, yet still remain visually arresting. Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Sonoya Mizuno and Oscar Isaac form the cast of this chamber piece, which takes place in the isolated home of internet tycoon Nathan Bateman (Isaac). Programmer Caleb Smith (Gleeson) arrives at this retreat and soon becomes a part of Bateman's experiments with A.I. determining whether or not his robot Ava (Vikander) can persuade him of its humanity. Alex Garland is no stranger to writing for movies but Ex Machina marks his first time behind the camera, where he demonstrates notable restraint and thus allows the ideas to flow smoothly. As speculative science fiction goes this ground may have been trod before, but Garland's footsteps are distinct enough to make the journey a smart and engrossing experience.
