The intelligence is artificial; the questions are real

Sci-fi film puts stock in characters, not robot wars

Advertisement

Advertise with us

Anyone who has ever seen a science-fiction movie knows that an entity with artificial intelligence will turn on its creator.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/05/2015 (4126 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Anyone who has ever seen a science-fiction movie knows that an entity with artificial intelligence will turn on its creator.

That’s the precedent as seen again and again in movies such as The Terminator, Blade Runner, The Matrix, and yes, now playing, The Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Screenwriter Alex Garland’s directorial debut, Ex Machina, may or may not depart from that formula. But it certainly offers a compelling twist on the theme in its depiction of the singularity faceoff.

MONGREL MEDIA
Domnhall Gleeson browses in Ex Machina.
MONGREL MEDIA Domnhall Gleeson browses in Ex Machina.

Caleb (Domnhall Gleeson) is a lowly computer programmer, a drone in the massive technological hive of tech magnate Nathan (Oscar Isaac). Caleb wins a lottery in which he has been chosen to meet Nathan on his estate, which, we gather, is the size of a small country.

It is here that the eccentric alpha genius enlists Caleb to assist with his latest project. Caleb will administer a Turing test on a cyborg named Ava (Alicia Vikander) to determine, as per the “imitation game” creator Alan Turing, to see if her lab-created brain can pass for a human intelligence.

Though Ava’s face and voice are that of a beautiful woman, Caleb can plainly see that beneath that veneer are the motors and rotors of an automaton. (The film’s visual effects are just realistic enough to unnerve.) But Caleb dutifully carries out the test and becomes increasingly drawn to Ava. Simultaneously, he becomes more repelled by Nathan, whom he comes to suspect is testing him, especially by exploiting the illusion of Ava’s gender.

Next to those aforementioned AI movie predecessors, Ex Machina is a small and low-budget affair, devoid of big action and grand set pieces. It is rare that a piece of science fiction can be described as intimate, but Garland’s movie is that. If it weren’t for Ava’s elaborately cybernetic body, this could almost be a stage play.

But if its scale is small, its ideas are big, and even a little radical. Most stories of AI assume an enhanced, manufactured intelligence will seek world domination. Isn’t it more likely that it would, like any other sentient being, seek freedom? (In this, Ex Machina does share some DNA with Blade Runner.)

In telling this fanciful story, Garland gets maximum dramatic stability from a tripod of gifted actors. Gleeson effortlessly registers smarts and heart, necessary qualities for deeply empathetic geek. Vikander’s performance is a little marvel of precision, wherein each glimmer of emotion may be suspect.

Most impressive of all is Isaac, whose Nathan is a freak of intelligence, ego and arrogance. How radically different Isaac is from role to role in Inside Llewyn Davis, A Most Violent Year and now this.

His work here brings to mind how, when I was a kid, we used to refer to Frankenstein’s monster as “Frankenstein” in a wilful refusal to separate the monster from his creator. In this movie, Isaac’s character wholly justifies the contraction.

randall.king@freepress.mb.ca

Randall King

Randall King
Writer

Randall King writes about film for the Winnipeg Free Press.

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

History

Updated on Friday, May 8, 2015 10:09 AM CDT: Adds photo

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

The intelligence is artificial; the questions are real

By Randall King 3 minute read Preview

The intelligence is artificial; the questions are real

By Randall King 3 minute read Friday, May. 8, 2015

Anyone who has ever seen a science-fiction movie knows that an entity with artificial intelligence will turn on its creator.

That's the precedent as seen again and again in movies such as The Terminator, Blade Runner, The Matrix, and yes, now playing, The Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Screenwriter Alex Garland's directorial debut, Ex Machina, may or may not depart from that formula. But it certainly offers a compelling twist on the theme in its depiction of the singularity faceoff.

Caleb (Domnhall Gleeson) is a lowly computer programmer, a drone in the massive technological hive of tech magnate Nathan (Oscar Isaac). Caleb wins a lottery in which he has been chosen to meet Nathan on his estate, which, we gather, is the size of a small country.

Read
Friday, May. 8, 2015

Kinew’s message for PM: don’t back down

Niigaan Sinclair 5 minute read Preview

Kinew’s message for PM: don’t back down

Niigaan Sinclair 5 minute read Friday, Aug. 21, 2026

Let it be known that when Canada’s provinces and alcohol industries needed a defender, Canada’s first First Nations provincial premier was their greatest warrior.

This is, admittedly, a provocative opening line — referencing historical and cultural intersections and relying on a stereotype or two.

It’s impossible, however, not to see how important the nearly Canada-wide provincial-led ban on the sale of U.S. alcohol is to Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.

It’s due to his stand on national matters like these that he’s become very popular — according to polls, the most popular premier in Canada — and has been empowered to take on the mantle of one of the captains of “Team Canada” on economic, political and domestic issues.

Read
Friday, Aug. 21, 2026

Executive exodus continues at Shared Health with three recent departures

Chris Kitching 5 minute read Preview

Executive exodus continues at Shared Health with three recent departures

Chris Kitching 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:15 AM CDT

Manitoba’s provincial health authority is looking for its fourth chief financial officer since 2023 and additional replacements after the recent departures of three executives.

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 10:15 AM CDT

Five Things: PM Carney explains why Canada left the U.S. negotiating table

David Baxter, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Five Things: PM Carney explains why Canada left the U.S. negotiating table

David Baxter, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026

OTTAWA - Canada is preparing to hit the U.S. with dollar-for-dollar tariffs in response to new 50 per cent duties on $28 billion worth of Canadian products that took effect when talks between the two nations collapsed as negotiations neared the finish line. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney was quiet publicly during the final days of negotiations, but now has now explained his rationale for telling the Canadian negotiating team, led by Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and chief negotiator Janice Charette, to leave the table.

Restrictions on further trade deals

"The U.S. Introduced at the last hours, in the last hours, efforts to restrict our ability to have other trade deals. You heard me say a moment ago, what we've accomplished in the past year, 20 new deals, economic and security partnerships, the prospect of doubling our market access because we believe in free trade. We're the partner of choice in many respects for countries around the world and the Americans wanted to restrict that. They had language that what they wanted to restrict that, unacceptable," Carney said during a press conference on Parliament Hill.

Read
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026

The good, bad and record setting performance in Bombers loss to Elks

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Preview

The good, bad and record setting performance in Bombers loss to Elks

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 22-19 defeat at the hands of the Edmonton Elks at Commonwealth Stadium in Alberta on Friday was fitting for all the wrong reasons.

The Bombers looked reinvigorated as they jumped out to a 16-point lead in the first half. Then some bad habits reared their ugly head, as the Elks roared back with 19 straight points before kicker Vincent Blanchard walked it off with a 40-yard field goal.

A night that began with so much promise left many fans to wonder what the ceiling actually is for this team in 2026.

On offence, Zach Collaros completed 19 of 30 passes for 219 yards, one touchdown and an interception; Brady Oliveira amassed 118 yards on 16 carries and added a pair of catches for 11 yards; and Nic Demski secured five grabs for 80 yards.

Read
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026

Woman stabbed in Spence neighbourhood

1 minute read Yesterday at 4:08 PM CDT

A woman was stabbed in the Spence neighbourhood Saturday and Winnipeg police are investigating.

The stabbing happened before 4:45 p.m. Aug. 22 in the 600 block of Ellice Avenue, and a passerby called 911 when the injured victim, in her 30s, asked for help. The victim was taken to hospital in unstable condition with an upper-body wound and was later upgraded to stable.

General patrol officers canvassed the area and the Winnipeg Police Service's major crimes unit took over the investigation. Police are asking anyone with information to contact major crimes at 204-986-6219, or leave an anonymous tip at Crime Stoppers: 204-786-8477 or winnipegcrimestoppers.org.