Ex Machina (Review) - Smart, Thought-Provoking Sci-Fi

Ava (Alicia Vikander)

The Turing test is an examination given to a computer in order to determine whether or not it can be considered true artificial intelligence. The test is based entirely upon a candidate communicating with two individuals - one being a computer, the other being a human - and through a series of questions, the candidate must decide which of the two other entities is human. In the actual test, the human candidate is given no visual suggestion as to which other participant is human, and must make their decision solely on textual responses. Ex Machina puts a genius spin on this idea, and has computer programmer Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) speak directly to Ava (Alicia Vikander)...the difference being that Ava is psychically an android standing in front of Caleb, therefore adding an immediate, visual contradiction to the test. 

Caleb is given this incredible opportunity because he won the lottery at the search-engine at which he works, resulting in him being flown to his estranged boss' home. Caleb's boss Nathan (Oscar Isaac) is an intimidatingly intelligent man who has an air of mystery to him; resulting in a man whose emotions are just as difficult to read as any cyborg, if not more so. Gradually over the course of the film, you're given small glimpses into why exactly Caleb was flown to this isolated location, and things soon take a much more insidious turn. 

Caleb & Nathan (Domhnall Gleeson & Oscar Isaac)

To call Ex Machina a sci-fi movie doesn't do it nearly enough justice, the same way that calling Fight Club a thriller barely scrapes the surface. It's a film which never panders to its audience, and as a result, it is a vastly intelligent film which - at the risk of sounding pretentious - works on so many levels. Of course, there's the basic story about a man testing the humanity of a machine. However, this conjures questions of humanity itself and some rarely touched-on issues such as ethics concerning robotics. Naturally, it isn't really something we've had to consider with modern day technology, but Ex Machina presents issues such as these in a very interesting manner. All of this wouldn't be possible if it weren't for the three central roles being played so perfectly. 

This is a movie which is, essentially, a whole bunch of conversations happening as a result of eachother. Nathan befriends Caleb; Caleb talks to Ava; Ava talks about Nathan, and so on and so forth. But it's the ways in which these conversations impact others so dramatically that keeps the movie going at an ever-speeding pace. What initially seemed harmless inevitably becomes a major plot point, and this is what makes Ex Machina such a joy to watch. Some aspects towards the end are predictable, but the conclusion itself most certainly isn't - and in that lies the only point of contention I think the movie may have created for itself. 

Once the credits begin to roll, some may be disappointed by the frankly bleak ending the film goes for. Personally, I thought it was a perfect end to a great movie, because it leaves you to make some of your own interpretations. It's far from wholly open-ended, but the motives each character possess aren't made entirely clear. 

Verdict
Ex Machina is the best kind of sci-fi: it provides interesting perspectives into what the future of technology holds, and then goes on to raise deep, philosophical questions about that exact technology. If you prefer your films grounded in complete reality, then maybe it won't be for you, but there wasn't a moment during the film which I wished had ended sooner. 

"One day the A.Is are going to look back on us

the same way we look at fossils." 

Whiplash: Review

Go and see this movie. Right now. I say this, because I don't imagine many people will, especially with action extravaganzas like Taken 3 currently being in cinemas. But if you happen to choose Liam Neeson's latest shoot-em-up instead of this incredible movie, you will be doing yourself an immense disservice. 

We've all dreamed of being the very best at something, haven't we? In Whiplash, Andrew (Miles Teller) wants to be great. Not just 'great', mind you, but one of the Greats. Andrew's chosen profession is drumming, and he will play and play until blood oozes from his hands and scars form, just so that he can be the very best. One day while turning the note pages for a sub-par peer, Andrew's talent is recognised by the frighteningly intense Fletcher - the infamously aggressive conductor of New York's best jazz students. From here onwards, Andrew is subjected to Fletcher's frankly murderous tendencies, and always appears mere moments away from snapping. 

Andrew (Miles Teller)

It should come as no surprise that Whiplash is an intense movie. What may surprise you, however, is that it is possibly one of the most intense, edge-of-your-seat, thrilling films I've ever seen. And that's coming from somebody who has lacked the musical ability to play an instrument for the entirety of his life. The film instantly makes you fascinated by the talent that goes into becoming a legendary musician, and leaves you wanting to perfect at least one thing in your life. Littered with mesmerising pieces of jazz music, Whiplash is also a joy to simply listen to, even if this music is split up with terrifying screams and insults from the mouth of Fletcher. 

The character of Fletcher is immediately comparable to Full Metal Jacket's Sgt. Hartman. Vicious, toxic obscenities come from him for much of the movie, and at times it's so excessive that it borders on being darkly comical. But gradually, things drift very far from humorous, and soon you're fearing for Andrew's very life. He doesn't seem to care though, as it's soon very apparent that Andrew's willing to give up literally everything in pursuit of his seemingly unreachable goal. Of course, once you give up everything, you're left with very little indeed. 

Fletcher (J.K Simmons)

I cannot think of a single thing which detracted from the movie. The music throughout was immersive, the acting was phenomenal (and has earned J.K Simmons an Oscar nomination), and the directing and cinematography were always suitably fast-paced and in time with the music...it's just an incredible movie. The only way in which you may not find this film extraordinary, is if you absolutely hate the drums as an instrument. That's it. 

Verdict
Whiplash is an incredible achievement: it manages to tell a spectacular story about drums which will appeal to people, like myself, who have never picked up a pair of drumsticks. But it isn't just about drumming, it's also about the pursuit of perfection, and what somebody might go through to in order to try and achieve this. By the time the credits roll, you'll probably forget how long you've been holding your breath, and let out a final sigh before taking in everything you've just seen. 

"There are no two words more harmful in the

English language than 'good job'"

Foxcatcher: Review

Do not google 'John du Pont' or anything related to Foxcatcher if you plan on watching it in the cinema. I say this, because I looked into the true story behind the movie beforehand, and it slightly ruins the shock meant to be achieved by the ending of the film. Considering the movie itself is a very slow-burn up until this moment in particular, finding out in advance may ruin the film for you. Thankfully, I still enjoyed it for what it was: a dark, insidious telling of an American sports tragedy. 

John E. du Pont (Steve Carell)

Foxcatcher tells the story of team Foxcatcher - a team of American wrestlers who are formed by wealthy millionaire John E. du Pont. Du Pont begins Foxcatcher after meeting with wrestler Mark Schultz, and convinces him to move to his estate in order to train for the Olympics. However, it's gradually revealed that Mr. du Pont may not be quite the coach he has claimed to be, and is actually a lonely man wanting nothing more than to see his great country shine once more. It's a rather bleak story, but one which is interesting all the same. Also, Steve Carell practically steals the entire movie as the sinister John du Pont. 

When trailers were first released for the film, many could not believe the startling transformation Steve Carell went under in order to become this infamous figure. It's truly mesmerising to merely watch him on screen when first introduced, but his incredible acting manages to keep you engaged long after. It definitely wouldn't be a stretch to say that this is Carell's best performance to date, and a stark departure from the U.S Office's Michael Scott. Carell isn't the only actor out of his comfort zone, however, as both Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo also deliver outstanding performances for the entirety of the film. 

Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum)

One thing that truly surprised me before seeing the film was the polarising opinions I had heard. Some people claimed that it was a "masterpiece", while others slated it for being boring and monotonous. While I can understand the latter opinion, and I'm not quite of the former, I still thought that Foxcatcher was a great movie. Of course, a lot of the film lacks even a soundtrack, and there are long periods of silence which may make some viewers uncomfortable. In my opinion though, this only engrossed me more; similar to how 2013's 12 Years a Slave utilised silences for intense effect. 

Verdict

While it didn't quite reach my high expectations, Foxcatcher was still a film well worth watching. I can completely understand those who left the cinema wholly disappointed, but I'm happy to say I am not one of them. It's far from one of my favourite movies, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it win multiple awards in the coming months. 

"Coach is the father. Coach is a mentor. 

Coach has great power on athlete's life."

Birdman Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance): Review

Remain ignorant going into this film; it really is a virtue. The trailers for Birdman don't really do much to inform you of the plot of the movie, and that's precisely how it should be. This is a film which is a genuine experience in the cinema, and one which requires almost no CGI or explosions to keep the story interesting. In fact, Birdman himself openly berates this style of film-making. And you know what? It was brilliant. 

Riggan (Michael Keaton)

The film tells the story of Riggan (Michael Keaton). Riggan's a guy whose life has gradually ground to a halt, and who mirrors Keaton in an almost comical fashion. Back in the late 80s, Riggan played the role of Birdman in a series of action movies which slowly faded into obscurity (similar to Keaton's portrayal of Batman in Tim Burton's adaptations). Nowadays, he's trying to put together a stage production, all the while being belittled by Birdman's little voice in the back of his mind. Riggan's also struggling with a crazy wife, ex-junkie daughter, and a pretentious method-actor who's seemingly trying to sabotage his play. Basically, he's a pretty down-on-his-luck guy. 

I won't ruin the rest of the movie, because it's a fun and enthralling ride, and also because it's ultimately the characters which become the focus. The film is made to seem like one, continuously-running shot without cuts, and this leads to a movie which feels like an on-stage production within itself. This means that every character portrayed in the movie feels far more genuine than many others I've seen, because you get to experience their emotions in real-time. For example, Riggan's daughter Sam (Emma Stone) has a brutal monologue directed at her Father in which she screams at him for his overwhelming desire to remain relevant, but then once the fighting ends, you're left watching as Sam slowly regrets her harsh choice of words. It's a feature which wouldn't be possible in a movie directed in any other manner, which is why Birdman is shockingly unique. 

Sam (Emma Stone)

Of course, a movie driven entirely by characters wouldn't be a lot of good if the characters themselves were forgettable. This is definitely not the case. Every role portrayed is either funny, likeable, or detestable - usually a blend of all three. There were some genuinely surprising performances however, such as Riggan's producer Jake, played by Zach Galifianakis. Usually Galifianakis is known for his comedic work  -specifically in The Hangover - but even he had some dramatic scenes which really worked. 

Verdict
Birdman is a movie which I'd heard great things about, and now that I've seen it, I imagine I'll be telling everybody similar praises. It certainly won't be beloved by fans of high-action blockbusters, but that's the point. It's a movie which pokes fun at other movies, and one which still manages to tell an interesting, thought-provoking story throughout. It's a movie about celebrity, popularity, relevance, family, and so much more. Put simply: If Birdman had released just one day earlier and therefore been in 2014, I definitely would have placed it highly on my top 10 of the year.

"People, they love blood. They love action. Not this talky, depressing, 

philosophical bullsh*t"