To erase the line between man and machine is to obscure the line between men and gods

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Sonoya Mizuno, Corey Johnson, Claire Selby, Gana Bayarsaikhan

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Isn't it strange, to create something that hates you?" – Ava

Why watch this? This is a superb story about artificial intelligence and the risk it may pose.

Plot Summary: Caleb Smith is a young programmer who wins a competition to spend a week at the remote estate of Nathan Bateman, the reclusive CEO of his company. Upon arrival, Caleb discovers he's been chosen to participate in a groundbreaking experiment: administering a Turing test to Ava, an advanced humanoid AI created by Nathan. Caleb's task is to evaluate Ava's consciousness and determine if her intelligence is indistinguishable from that of a human. This leads to unforeseen revelations and a complex examination of artificial intelligence and humanity.

Dad's Preview: Sci-fi often asks its audience about the meaning of being "human". Today, modern computing is asking a new question: What role do humans have if AI can run things better. Then it's about two clicks away from SkyNet and Terminators wiping out the human race. But I digress. This smart, tense, engrossing film is eye-candy for us nerds because it is futuristically beautiful. As expected, it certainly calls into question what it means to be human, and whether it's wise to create sentience within a machine.

Film4, DNA Films; A24