Ex Machina — Deep and Entertaining

Hip and funny and futuristic and philosophical and really pretty tippy — yeah, I really liked Ex Machina. The movie’s theme of humans building sentient conciousness isn’t new. HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey famously intoned “I’m sorry Dave, I can’t do that Dave.” But Ex Machina feels fresh in that it explores what, exactly, comprises human consciousness. Empathy and self awareness and sexuality and (on the dark side) the ability to manipulate another – these separate us from a programmed machine. Or, as the movie asks, is this enough? Is there something else? The film has fun as it teases its profound themes. Topping it off: actress Alicia Vikander as Eva. She brings a magic to the role, playing the knife edge between what might be really human and what’s merely a machine parroting its creator. The viewer does, of a sort, love her, or at least feel enchanted – which is necessary for the film to work. This movie will be remembered.