The Machine DVD [2014]

The Machine DVD Movie

As a huge fan of Sci Fi, when it's well done, as it is here, I found this movie to be excellent, both in its content and acting.
The story revolves around a young female Graduate who approaches a rather sinister corporation for a job in AI (Artificial Intelligence).
Toby Jones plays the main Scientist whom has ulterior motives for being in the employ of said Company, ostensibly to bring back to life, with some semblence of normality, injured war veterans, both male and female, whom could be viewed as experiments along the way to the end goal of a fully functional AI robot.
Caity Lotz gives a phenomenal central performance, which is at turns heartbreaking but also inspiring, as she discovers just what a wicked place, or more specifically how wicked some people can be, simply to justify their own position within a company - actor Dennis Lawson take a bow. He plays a typical company man, ready to trample over anyone who gets in his way, in order to achieve his dastardly aims. There are indeed people like this in real life. As the main Boss for the project undertaken by Toby Jones' Scientist, Lawson wishes to use Jones experimental creation for an altogether more nefarious purpose, specifically that of a robot soldier, that has enhanced capabilities, superior to any human. Jones on the other hand, has more human reasons for wishing to push the bounaries of what may be ultimately possible with the ongoing march of AI in our lives.
A subplot involves Jones' disabled daughter, as he uses his experiments as a means to try to improve her condition.
In the midst of all this, is the Machine, developing mentally all the time, as it tries to understand what it is to actually be human, and not just a fake facade emoting such that it will simply pass as human to the uninitiated, whilst still being a cold, unemotional machine below it all. The Machine itself surpasses this hurdle and does indeed become more human than was anticipated, such that Jones, her creator, wishes to use her as a developmental tool through which to further our understanding of the AI field, counterpointed by Lawsons character, who wants a cold blooded killing machine, full stop.
This movie has shades of 'Ghost in the Shell', and 'Ex Machina' within it, but it's none the worse for that, and the payoff at the end is reminiscent of the more recent 'Bloodshot'.
I'd highly recommend this movie, largely due to the two central performances of Jones and Lotz - absolutely love it !