Ex Machina

This movie would have been more interesting when it came out, before ChatGPT forced us to consider the same themes. Its themes are basically all of the common problems of AI, with which we are all now quite acquainted. Still, the movie is an engrossing meditation on those themes, a fair bit of movie-making when all is said and done. But it stinks a little overmuch of sci-fi; that is, nerdiness and technical skill without that deep artistic sense. The characters are formulaic, the dialogue is a caricature. I don't think it's a great movie; it's too riddled with cliche, even for 2014, and the human artistic touch is too shallow. Domhnall is unrealistically timid in a lot of situations, which I think is a common flaw in screenwriting -- characters put up with unacceptable situations for too long. They're too weak-natured, because anything else would result in the plot being shut down. For instance, I might feel intimidated on first meeting Nathan, but his attitude would quickly clear that awkwardness... I wouldn't take down my guard, but there'd be a changing of the guards... suspicion would take insecurity's place... it would clear the weak-willed awkwardness that lingers too long in so many movies like this. The cliche would be the unrealistically timid protagonist, who has to be timid to give the plot time to unfold. Good-natured Greg Focker puts up with too many shenanigans before putting his foot down, which gives us more time to enjoy said shenanigans. Indeed, Ben Stiller must be the prototype of weak-willed awkwardness that lets the plot unfold as his own expense. Ex Machina is more sinister, and in fact this archetype is very common in horror/thrillers, but the idea is the same. It's a plot device, and an irritating one. Doesn't Domhnall feel like a fool, acting that part?

Speaking of feeling like a fool... it'd be hard to play Vikander's part sincerely. Don't you worry that the whole movie is a prank to get you to pretend you're a robot and to think you're actually acting well? I'm not saying she acted poorly, but it's got to feel strange. I guess that's all of acting, but especially in an unnatural part such as this. You have to feel kind of dumb doing it. I thought she played it okay though.

Isaac was good, though a little too on-the-nose as sinister corporate bro.