Ex Machina (HBO)

About Ex Machina (HBO)

Ex Machina is a 2015 film directed by Alex Garland. It's a thought-provoking science fiction drama that investigates the ethical and emotional repercussions of artificial intelligence. Ex Machina tells the story of a young programmer named Caleb, who is chosen to take part in a ground-breaking experiment. He's tasked with testing the human qualities of a remarkable humanoid AI, Ava.

Making / Production

'Ex Machina' was written and directed by British novelist and screenwriter, Alex Garland in his directorial debut. A24 and DNA Films produced the movie. It took 10 weeks and a budget of $15 million to create this renowned Sci-Fi thriller. The film's unique design, including the stunning creation of Ava, was one of its highlights.

Actors

• Domhnall Gleeson as 'Caleb': the young programmer who is chosen to test the AI. Gleeson portrayed a naive, curious character who becomes increasingly suspicious and terrified throughout the film.
• Alicia Vikander as 'Ava': Ava is the AI that Caleb is testing. Vikander portrayed Ava using a mix of grace and curiosity, embodying a being on the verge of discovering its own sentience.
• Oscar Isaac as 'Nathan': Nathan is the eccentric CEO of the company. Isaac has effectively embodied a character that can be both intimidatingly intellectual and casually crude.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The name of Vikander's character, Ava, is a reference to 'Eve' from the biblical story of Adam and Eve. This parallels her role as the 'first woman' of her kind.
• Despite its high-tech plot, the majority of the movie was filmed in a hotel in Norway.
• Alex Garland has a cameo in the film as the man on the street seen in the surveillance footage.

Awards

Ex Machina was notably successful in the 2016 awards season. It won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, and was nominated for Best Original Screenplay.

Quotes

• "Isn't it strange, to create something that hates you?" - Ava
• "You are dead center of the greatest scientific event in the history of man." - Nathan
• "If you've created a conscious machine, it's not the history of man. It's the history of gods." - Caleb

Music, Soundtrack

• 'The Turing Test' - Hauntingly atmospheric piece that sets the tone for the rest of the film.
• 'Ava' - A mysterious and moving piece of music that helps define Ava's character.
• 'Bunsen Burner' - An intense and ominous track that underscores the climax of the film.