Ex Machina

Or how alcohol and programming could destroy human kind. The fantastic Alicia Vikander in the role of an innocent robot seduces the viewer who then willingly goes along with her game, gazing lovingly into her artificial eyes to the end. Garland works with an amazingly attractive concept and manages to deliver an exceedingly satisfying experience for both sexes. Gleeson is cast brilliantly as the classic nerdy programmer, but the jaunty Isaac (not Asimov) easily outplays him. A philosophical construction genius, drunk as a skunk, copulating till he’s blind, while still thinking straight. + lots of shots of bare bosoms. An unassuming gem amongst robot movies. Catching music. Man is saved by his good deeds. (05/31/2015)

As a matter of fact, the premise is pretty simple and builds on the psychology of two characters and one android. It is nice that films like this one get to be filmed these days, but the more of them there is, the more critical I am towards them and here everything stands and falls by the premise, which is not bad, but it is a base for a rather small-scale film. At least the ending made everything pretty clear. (06/05/2015)

A nod to a future sci-fi classic. A beautifully intriguing, disturbing, unpredictable and decently suspenseful intelligent thriller that throws in a decent twist in the last half hour, although I had already read the final one, but I still have a positive impression. The film may have a slower pace, but it also lures the viewer's attention with very impressive interiors and a decent soundtrack, at times almost horror-like. Too bad they didn't push the bar at least two notches higher at the end, I would have considered five stars then, still a decent hypnotic cinema experience. 80% (05/08/2015)

Clear evidence that electronics labeled smart are a potential threat. That’s why I decided to disconnect my smart washing machine. I'll miss the quiet rustling of my dirty laundry, but what wouldn't a man do for safety. I also unplugged my computer because it was suspiciously overheating while playing this movie, and my monitor because it was flickering suspiciously. I'm glad I caught it so early, no one will make a fool of me! (09/05/2015)

Ex Machina doesn’t bring anything groundbreaking, untraditional or shocking to the table, but the way it gets to its (non-revolutionary) outcome is so convincing that I was enchanted by Garland and I even considered giving him five stars. The script is very smart, it confuses the viewer with a variety of frantic possibilities for the plot to move forward (that they have to figure out together with, Caleb, the protagonist), only to take the less crazy and more logical path. The viewer is basically in the skin of Caleb and the ending feels like a devastating revelation. Whenever I thought that the script was getting stupid, after a couple of minutes it became clear that what was stupid was the behaviour of one of the characters, and the script was very well aware of that stupidity. Ex Machina is sci-fi in the tradition of the best representatives of the film and literary genre. The soundtrack and the design of the interiors and exteriors also deserve special praise. (05/03/2015)