The idea of man vs. machine is a story that's been done many times before throughout the history of film. Some of the greatest science-fiction epics in history have been based solely around such a conflict; in Ex Machina, however, the lines aren't so easily drawn. It's been far too long since movie-goers were treated to a true science-fiction thriller, and such a film is long overdue - going by the trailer alone, it seems Ex Machina is going to fix that.
At its core, Ex Machina is a film about the interaction between man and machine. The film focuses on two young men: a computer coder and his CEO, played by future Star Wars co-stars Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac. In the film, Gleeson wins the chance to spend time with his company's CEO, and while everything seems innocent at first, Isaac soon reveals the true reason behind their time together. Isaac means to test Ava, an extremely advanced artificial intelligence played by Alicia Vikander, by having someone act as her companion. Gleeson and the A.I. seem to form a bond rather quickly, but as trust between the group begins to deteriorate, it becomes harder and harder to determine just who's telling the truth.
Ex Machina is the latest from Alex Garland, the writer behind both Dredd and 28 Days Later. The film marks Garland's directorial debut, and going by the man's previous works, there's not much to worry about in terms of quality. Garland may not be a household name just yet, but depending on how well Ex Machina does, there's a good chance that could change.
The film was only just picked up for a stateside release, so it'll be some time before movie-goers will get to see the film: Ex Machina is set to debut in U.S. theaters on April 10, 2015.
Photo: A24
