Ex Machina
There is nothing more human than the will to survive.
Overview
Caleb, a coder at the world's largest internet company, wins a competition to spend a week at a private mountain retreat belonging to Nathan, the reclusive CEO of the company. But when Caleb arrives at the remote location he finds that he will have to participate in a strange and fascinating experiment in which he must interact with the world's first true artificial intelligence, housed in the body of a beautiful robot girl.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
Ex Machina taps into anxieties surrounding artificial intelligence that are prevalent in contemporary society. It draws upon the history of philosophical thought experiments like the Turing Test and explores the potential for AI to surpass human intelligence, leading to questions about power dynamics and the future of humanity.
- The film features brilliant performances, particularly from Alicia Vikander as Ava, whose portrayal of artificial intelligence is nuanced and captivating.
- The thought-provoking plot explores complex themes of consciousness, sentience, and the ethical implications of advanced AI, making it a compelling intellectual exercise.
- The film's minimalist and visually stunning aesthetic creates a palpable sense of unease and isolation, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
- It sparks critical discussion about the nature of humanity, control, and the potential dangers of unchecked technological advancement.
Fun Facts
- The name 'Ava' is a subtle nod to the Biblical Eve, representing the creation of something new and potentially dangerous.
- The design of Ava was heavily influenced by the work of modernist architects and designers, reflecting the clean and sterile aesthetic of Nathan's compound.
- Domhnall Gleeson, who plays Caleb, also starred in 'Black Mirror' (another exploration of technology's impact on society) which further reinforces the film's themes.
Available Languages
English
US
Title:
"There is nothing more human than the will to survive."
Español
ES
Title:
"No existe nada más humano que la voluntad de sobrevivir."
Český
CZ
Title:
"Nic není lidštějšího, než vůle přežít."
Deutsch
DE
Title:
"Es gibt nichts menschlicheres als den Willen zu überleben."
Français
FR
Title: Ex_Machina
"Rien n'est plus humain que la volonté de survivre"
Italiano
IT
Title:
"Non c'è niente di più umano della voglia di sopravvivere"
Where to Watch
Cast
Crew
Reviews
When you think you have seen everything about AI movies, Ex Machina arrives and gives a very nice perspective on the matter.
The movie goes quick, not many things happen but they are clever, very well thought. The story is more focused in the moral problems of the human main character rather than in the awe of the creation nor the existencial problem of the AI.
The cast is all great, from Vikander to Mizuno, Glee and great Oscar Isaac.
A real must to watch if you are into the topic.
**Enjoyable, satisfying sci-fi**
Kinda smutty, kinda creepy, kinda evil, thoroughly enjoying.
OK, there's nothing mind shattering but still good fun and a nice pay off imho.
For those complaining it was predictable - if you want something you CANNOT ever predict go watch Predestination https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/206487-predestination
Something about it hit the right chords for me, modern, start up, big loud talker, sad lonely guy.... I've seen lots of those geeks turned CEO's and they don't know what they've become.
Actually more to be said about the Nathan character than the rest.
Definitely worth a watch if you like dark humour and sci-fi.
Isn't it strange, to create something that hates you?
Ex Machina is written and directed by Alex Garland. It stars Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac and Sonoya Mizuno. Music is by Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury and cinematography by Rob Hardy.
A young programmer is thrilled to be selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment involving synthetic intelligence. He's to evaluate the human qualities of a highly advanced humanoid Artificial Intelligence known as Ava...
Your nutshell review is that it's a cautionary tale of science going too far, where the narrative thrust of a Turin Test becomes something far darker and troubling. This is a deliberately slow paced sci-fier, told out of a remote reinforced science institute populated by just one human and some A.I. creations. Enter Caleb (Gleeson), who doubles the human quotient and kicks starts what is a cunningly sexy, troubling and potent picture.
As we are drawn into this most fascinating world, we are requested to pose ourselves the deeper questions about being human, for better or worse. This is nothing new, this has been explored in many other sci-fi pictures, but the intensity of the set-up, the performance of the actors in this intimate surround, for sure engage the patiently interested.
The ending is plain daft, even irresponsible when one considers how much thought has gone into the story previously, but mostly this is a genre piece of considerable worth. 8/10
I thought the story was both interesting and believable on some levels. I have no doubt that an AI would eventually turn on a creator, especially since most creators don't think of artificial intelligence as anything other than a tool to use and dispose of. Be careful what you wish for, if you try to create a life through AI, don't be surprised if it has a mind of its own.⭐⭐⭐⭐
Oscar Awards
Wins
VISUAL EFFECTS - 2015
Andrew Whitehurst, Paul Norris, Mark Ardington, Sara Bennett
Nominations
WRITING (Original Screenplay) - 2015
Alex Garland
Media
Featurette
VFX Q&A with Andrew Whitehurst
Trailer
Ex Machina | Boy Meets Ava | Official HD Trailer 4 | A24
Featurette
Ex Machina | Nathan's World | Official Featurette HD | A24