Ex Machina — Polite questions, unequal power

Spoiler-free review.

Ex Machina is at its best when somebody asks a reasonable question and the conversation becomes less comfortable. There is usually more than one thing being tested. Alex Garland keeps that pressure close to the people in the room. The film does not need a large world around them to make their choices feel consequential.

Alicia Vikander gives Ava a precision that makes the act of watching her interesting. Small differences in how she responds invite interpretation without settling it. Oscar Isaac brings a different kind of uncertainty. His ease can make an encounter feel friendly, but it also suggests that he expects to decide its boundaries.

The enclosed setting suits a story about access and control. Who is allowed to ask questions, and who has to answer them, matters as much as the information being exchanged. Domhnall Gleeson gives that arrangement a useful human point of entry. His attempts to understand the situation make sense even when his confidence does not.

Occasionally the dialogue spells out an idea that the performances have already made clear. I preferred the moments when the argument was embedded in the awkwardness of an exchange. Even so, the limited scale is a strength. It gives the film enough concentration for its questions about intelligence and power to feel immediate.

2014 · English. Film details · Film details · Poster source · Artwork © its respective rights holders.

— Desly