EX MACHINA

What happens to me if i fail your test?

Director: Alex Garland

Actors: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac and others

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi

Duration: 108 minutes

Plot: a young programmer is selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breath-taking humanoid A.I. 

Analysis: Ex Machina is surely a science fiction movie quite different from what we are used to watch nowadays. Even from the first scenes the viewer senses the mysterious atmosphere wrapping around him like a spider's net. The plot is simple yet ingenious while the plain but inclusive direction greatly increases the feeling of anxiety by creating more and more unanswered questions. The visual effects are also present but do not monopolize the attention as it usually happens with movies of such genre, thus allowing the clever script to shine. Regarding the performances, Domhnall Glesson and Oscar Isaac are both great but the true revelation is non other than Alicia Vikander, the next big female star of Hollywood, who is absolutely brilliant in her role, managing to be sweet and amiable yet distant and enigmatic at the same time.
     Summing up, Ex Machina is an enjoyable film which will keep your interest elavated not with the lavish scenaries or the breathtaking action scenes but with the imaginative plot, the firm direction and the excellent performances.

Things to notice:

• the mysterious atmosphere,  
• the plot's twists and
• Alicia Vikander's irresistible performance.

Oscar awards (2016):

• one (1) oscar win for: Best Achievement in Visual Effects. 

• one (1) oscar nomination for: Best Writing, Original Screenplay.

Evaluation: 7.9/10

Should be watched tonight if: you are looking for a more sophisticated version of Blade Runner.

Trailer