Ex machina : Alex Garland’s masterpiece is on Netflix
First recognized as a screenwriter (28 days later, sunlight, Never let Me Go), Alex Garland showed what he was capable of as a director in his first feature film Ex machina (2015). With this film, the filmmaker has raised the bar, delivering an intimate and fascinating work of science fiction. We follow Caleb, a young programmer who wins a competition that allows him to spend a week with Nathan, the CEO of the company where he works. The latter’s genius motivates Caleb to join him. But his arrival will actually allow him to participate a strange experiment with artificial intelligence. An android called AVA with whom Caleb will have to communicate to test his abilities and see if he has consciousness.
Ex machina it clearly seems ahead of its time as we ask it more today than ever questions about artificial intelligence. Its use in films, for example, has been heavily criticized. But developments continue, which worries some. So 10 years ago it seemed like a work of pure science fiction, now it seems to be closer to anticipation.
This being, Ex machina it is above all an emotional film, capable of making you uncomfortable and moving. The relationship between Caleb and AVA, and the feelings the latter develops for this machine, push the film towards emotion. A way for Alex Garland to surprise in the last act that offers a real twist.
Collected by Alicia Vikander with a viral promo
Unfortunately, when it was released in French cinemas, Ex machina it drew no crowds. The feature had piled up just 67,000 entries. The presence of Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander and Oscar Isaac (then less known to today’s general public) was evidently not enough. Nor, furthermore, viral promotion with which it was imagined Tinder. In fact, an AVA profile had been created on the dating site. The face of Alicia Vikander appeared and users could then chat with her. Which obviously wasn’t the actress flirting behind her screen, but rather an artificial intelligence. A bot programmed to start a conversation and seduce its interlocutor before sending them to a page Instagram which revealed the deception.
If the rumors were not notable for Ex machina in France, this didn’t stop the film from turning a profit, thanks to a solid worldwide box office ($36 million in revenue). Furthermore, the work acquired the status of a cult film among viewers, who were then able to catch up by discovering it on DVD or on television. With the additionEx machina in the Netflix catalog (April 1) should help make it even more popular.
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Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
