Year: 2015
Genre: Sci-fi
Director: Alex Garland
Plot: A young programmer is selected by his boss to participate in a test where he must evaluate a robot equipped with artificial intelligence.
The gist: Most sci-fi films tend to be flashy and loud, save for a select few. Ex Machina is one of those few that opts for a quieter approach in order to educate and astound its audience.
Caleb is a young programmer selected by his boss Nathan, to visit his home in the middle of nowhere, to participate in an experiment. Nathan has created a robot named Ava, and programmed her with very sophisticated A.I. capabilities. Nathan wants Caleb to engage Ava in a handful of sessions to see how human Ava can be. Caleb discovers that Ava is a truly amazing individual, both physically and emotionally, but soon learns she is much more than that, and even Nathan himself isn't simply a boss asking his employee to take a test.
Alex Garland, who makes his directorial debut, has written a great screenplay which will no doubt keep the audience guessing on which direction it is heading. As you watch, you get the feeling that the three main characters are all playing each other, but guessing who wins is the fun part.
The good: Alicia Vikander is impressive as Ava, balancing between the smooth robotic movements and tics of a machine and her attempted human facial expressions very well. Oscar Isaac is also great as the slightly eccentric Nathan while Domhnall Gleeson puts in a quiet but convincing performance as Caleb. Credit also goes to set design, visual effects and cinematography, which are all top notch.
The bad: The music score is quite disappointing, especially when it's almost non-existent in the film's climax, thereby dampening all the suspense that Garland had built up to that point. In fact, the film overall is too quiet, save for one dance sequence. The ending itself seems cold, but Garland went for the unexpected so he deserves some credit for that.
Verdict: Alex Garland's first attempt at directing is fascinating yet imperfect. Ex Machina could use a bit more noise, but at the very least it's an eye-opening film which will educate and amaze you. (7/10)
Year: 2014
Genre: Biography drama
Director: Bennett Miller
Plot: Based on the true story of Mark and Dave Schultz, a pair of wrestling brothers and their association with millionaire wrestling enthusiast John du Pont, which ends in tragedy.
The gist: Foxcatcher is named after the farm where John du Pont lives. He is a millionaire who considers himself a patriot, and wants to make America glorious again.
To that end, he invites Olympic wrestling gold medallist Mark Schultz to his estate and pledges to provide him with everything he needs to win the World Championship and the next Olympics in Seoul. Eventually John manages to persuade Mark's brother Dave, also an Olympic gold medallist in wrestling, to join Team Foxcatcher. However, John's continuously bizarre behavior threatens their relationship.
Director Bennett Miller ought to be commended for attempting to translate a fascinating yet tragic story for the big screen, even though the results are mixed at best.
The good: Steve Carell, who earned an Oscar nomination for playing John du Pont is pretty awesome here. It's not just the prosthetic nose and makeup that makes him seem disarming, but Carell's mannerisms and speech pattern as well. Channing Tatum is better than he's ever been as the intense Mark Schultz. Hopefully he takes more roles like these in the future. Mark Ruffalo is also solid as Dave Schultz, the quiet and sensible one among the trio. Some scenes turn out pretty tense and Miller deserves credit for that.
The bad: Miller chose to rely on the actors' reactions and quiet moments to tell the story, but it doesn't always work. There are too many instances where scenes are drawn out unnecessarily, or Miller kills the sound and replaces it with a score. Even the wrestling matches get this treatment, which negates the intensity of the fight. This film unfortunately focuses more on the three men and the tragedy at the end, and less on the wrestling. I would have preferred a balance of the two. Plus the editing could have been tighter.
Verdict: Watch this for Carell, Tatum and Ruffalo at their best. But overall the film isn't as tight and intense as it could have been, making it a hard film to digest. (6/10)
Year: 2014
Genre: Biography, war drama
Director: Clint Eastwood
Plot: A biography of Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL sniper who has been credited with over 160 kills during his four tours in Iraq.
The gist: I've heard about the controversy surrounding this movie, about how it makes Muslims look bad. Honestly, I don't see that aspect here. I can understand how some people may look at it that way, but I chose to focus on the story and the man in question, which is what viewers should do.
This is the story of the late Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL sniper who did four tours in Iraq, and was known as a legend among his peers. The film tells it from his childhood briefly before showing how he was a Texan cowboy who eventually decided to stop riding rodeo horses and serve his country as a soldier.
Director Clint Eastwood focuses most of the film on his four tours in Iraq and how he was determined to hunt members of Al-Qaeda, particularly a sniper named Mustafa. In between, Eastwood inserts scenes of Kyle at home with his wife Taya and how his career affects their relationship.
The good: Bradley Cooper is splendid as Chris Kyle, bulking up and training hard to look the part as well as portray a man who is dedicated to serving his country and protect his fellow men. Sienna Miller is also quite good as his wife, Taya. Also noteworthy are the battle scenes, and a few of the sniper scenes can be downright tense.
The bad: It almost feels like the film merely scratches the surface of the real Chris Kyle's story. Was he merely a loyal and dedicated soldier who just wants to help his men? Was his only regret being unable to save the men who died fighting next to him? The story feels almost too perfect. But some actual footage of Kyle's funeral which Eastwood inserts at the end is a nice touch, as it shows how much the American people loved him.
Verdict: It's a good biography movie, but not exactly Clint Eastwood's best work. Bradley Cooper is commendable though. (7/10)
