Ex Machina (2015)

Garland's directorial debut is his most successful and satisfying creation yet, an old-fashioned grown-up sci-fi executed with Kubrickian scrutiny and a darkly satirical pulse. Vikander's poised, precise performance as Ava stands out as the star, crafting both a sci-fi and feminist icon.

Garland's high-IQ debut connects viscerally as both a taut thriller and a perceptive exploration of intelligence and desire. The critic singles out Vikander's witty, nuanced performance as Ava for particular praise.

Garland's cerebral directorial debut questions what it means to be human through philosophical debate and tense interactions in a confined, beautifully rendered setting. It is seductively strange, consistently thought-provoking and admirably adult, even if somewhat predictable.

The review sees the film as a patient, creepy directorial debut that slowly grips through its unsettling setup and suspenseful human-AI dynamics. It singles out Alicia Vikander’s Ava as the standout, making the humanoid more compelling than the humans and carrying the film.

Garland's AI thriller feels like an elegant short story bulked out to feature length but handled with confidence. Vikander steals the movie with a sly dreaminess in the central role.

The debut is more compelling as a study of millennial tech entrepreneurs than as pure AI speculation, with a classical setup that reveals its plotting too readily. It discusses the morality of AI in depth but ends up fudging its stance, though the ambiguous climax is satisfying.

Garland's art-house debut takes viewers to the birth of convincing AI in a slinky, thoughtful setup with strong dialogue and Vikander's spellbinding presence. An obvious twist and clunky developments undermine the credibility of a story that promised more.

An elegant variation on Frankenstein that turns Gothic and predictable, over-extending a short story into a chamber piece focused on male fantasy and a foxy female robot. It follows in the wake of stronger films like Her and Under the Skin without matching their challenge.

The critic calls the film a shrewdly imagined, persuasively made, and quietly unnerving speculative chamber drama that balances big ideas with pulp thrills. It praises Garland’s assured debut direction and the remarkable design and performance of the robot Ava by Alicia Vikander.

Garland's stylish feature debut is an absorbing, thrilling and impressively performed psychological thriller that plays as both love triangle and battle of wills while balancing thoughtful AI ruminations with old-fashioned thrills. Vikander delivers the standout performance as the soulful, seductive android.

Garland's directorial debut rejuvenates familiar AI themes by crossing them with Moreau-like exploitation of artificial beings, delivering a timely, sharply paced chamber piece whose sympathies ultimately lie with the android. Vikander's sensual performance as Ava stands out amid the tense power dynamics and uncertainty about consciousness.

The critic praises the stylish directing debut, sleek production values and visual design centered on the android Ava but criticizes the third-act slump and lack of dramatic punch or fresh ideas. It is called a classy piece of cerebral sci-fi that functions as superior pulp for fans despite feeling flimsy.

The critic finds the film a smart, sleek creation story about men and the machines and women they dream up. It singles out Alicia Vikander’s performance as the robot Ava for building a controlled, geometrically precise portrayal that enriches and ultimately engulfs the movie.

The review describes the directorial debut as a brittle, beautiful, witty and sensual digital-age Frankenstein that slyly examines gender and humanity. It singles out Oscar Isaac’s nuanced, funny portrayal of the tech mogul Nathan as a highlight alongside the exquisite design and performances.

The critic notes the film starts with an original premise and marvelous design for Ava but quickly turns formulaic, shifting to a noir-ish plot about abusive masters and wily slaves rather than exploring unique singularity ideas. Ava remains a creepily alluring highlight thanks to Vikander's performance.

Garland's taut, intimate directorial debut blends character drama with sci-fi horror in a razor-sharp chamber piece. The critic highlights the powerhouse cast and the way shifting power dynamics build mesmerising tension and philosophical depth.

Garland's assured directorial debut is an intelligent, disquieting sci-fi thriller built around a minimal psychological setup. The critic singles out the superb trio of lead performances for praise.

The critic calls the film smart, gripping, and well-acted with a thoughtful slow-burn arc between Caleb and Ava; singles out Vikander's performance and the seamless visual effects for making the robot character believable and overlooked.

The critic finds it a strong feature with effective humor from Isaac, a riveting core scenario, and stunning visuals, but notes a minimal amount of humanity that keeps it from striking a deeper emotional chord.

The pleasure lies in deeper questions of what makes us human and tensions between characters, with strong performances; plot suffers from predictability, but a welcome addition to the genre.

The critic describes the film as a chilly yet engrossing drama elevated by its production design and Garland's screenplay, though hampered by lethargic pacing. It singles out the lack of emotional engagement with the robotic characters as a notable flaw.

The critic calls it a triumph and the first great film of 2015, praising the tight screenplay, meticulous filmmaking, sensational performances, and big ideas about AI.