“Ex Machina” casts a spell on its viewers - a chilly, creepy, unsettling spell. Gen X computer nerd Domhnall Gleeson toils at his desk for a computer conglomerate much like Google. One day, he learns he has been selected to spend a week with the company founder, who lives in seclusion on a vast, chilly estate where he unveils Ava - a beautiful female robot programmed with state of the art artificial intelligence. Gleeson must determine the extent of her intelligence and any human qualities she possesses. Alicia Vikander gives Ava an unforgettable quality of innocence of guile. She flirts with Gleeson and wins him over (and us.) Meanwhile, billionaire Oscar Isaac - who dreamed up the project, adds menace to the triangle. Part mystery, mostly science fiction with a touch of horror, “Ex Machina” will stay with you on the ride home and probably in your dreams as well. Sure it recalls “Blade Runner,” “Frankenstein,” “A.I.” and “2001: A Space Odyssey,” but that puts it in good company. Does it deliver what it promises? Sexy sci-fi thriller. Is it entertaining? Holds your attention. Is it worth the price of admission? A keeper.
