The Machine **** (2013, Toby Stephens, Caity Lotz, Denis Lawson) – Movie Review

An excellent British sci-fi movie. How often have I written that? That’s right, not very often. Written and directed by Caradog W James, it is smart, atmospheric, thought-provoking, twisty and fast paced sci-fi thriller entertainment. Obviously, it is unfair to compare it with Blade Runner or Frankenstein. That would be a silly own-goal. But it would great if it reaches a satisfied audience.

Underrated, undervalued and underused Toby Stephens stars as computer programmer Vincent McCarthy, who works for the Ministry of Defence at a time when the UK is in the throws of a cold war weapons race with China. His job is to develop an advanced weapon using artificial intelligence.

He has developed a chip that can be implanted into the brain of injured soldiers, but a glitch has deadly consequences. He then enlists the help of a co-worker, sassy A.I. expert Ava (Caity Lotz), and together they set out to create The Machine, the first ever piece of self-aware artificial intelligence with full free thinking and learning capabilities, designed to help humanity.

As the duo set about creating the perfect android under the watchful eyes of their silkily menacing boss Thomson (Denis Lawson), they get close and Vincent reveals he is using the MOD’s funding to research ways to help cure his daughter’s illness. But soon Thomson intervenes and the MoD steal their breakthrough and teach it to become a robotic weapon.

I mean it as a compliment when I say The Machine plays like a high-quality feature version of Doctor Who, complete with classy, stylistic studio sets, eye-catching cinematography and stunning low-budget special effects. Stephens and Lotz are both class acts, with the impressive Lotz also playing the role of The Machine and performing all her own action and stunts.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Movie Review

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