Eye In the Sky - directed by Gavin Hood
Starring: Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman, Aaron Paul, Barkhad Abdi, Jeremy Northam, Monica Dolan, Richard McCabe, Aisha Takow, Faisa Hassan, Armaan Haggio, Kim Engelbrecht, Iain Glen, Daniel Fox, Michael O'Keefe, Laila Robins, Carl Beukes, Babou Ceesay, Phoebe Fox, Gavin Hood, Lex King
Screenplay: Guy Hibbert
Music Score by: Paul Hepker, Mark Kilian
Cinematography: Haris Zambarloukos
Edited by: Megan Gill
Running Time: 102 minutes
Rated: M - Language and war violence
An image of this movies poster could easily sit in the dictionary next to the definition for the word 'topical'.
In a world where government responses to terror attacks are as big in news terms as the events that they were reactions to "Eye In the Sky" is bang on topical target with its plot and the themes that it explores.
Basically this is a 100 minute 'shoot / don't shoot' debate as a host of military and political people try to decide if they should launch a Hellfire missile from an ever circling drone into a Kenyan house containing several terrorists preparing for a suicide bomb attack.
From that synopsis the answer might appear very simple but there is a complication.
A young civilian girl has set up a stall to sell bread right outside the wall of the house with the crosshairs over it.
The military are quite sure that they should still go ahead but on the politician side they are not as convinced.
The debate takes place in several rooms all linked by phone and video.
Chiefly in Northwood HQ, Hertfordshire where Helen Mirren's Colonel Katherine Powell co-ordinates the whole thing as mission lead.
She has contact with the Kenyan military and there is also a man on the street gathering intel using some amazingly impressive technology.
She is also in touch with Creech Air Force Base in Las Vegas where the Reaper drone that will fire the missile is controlled from.
And then there is the group of politicians and one Lieutenant General gathered around a London table with whom she must seek authority to give the kill order.
Yes- this is basically a people in rooms talking kind of movie but that should in no way put you off.
This is tense, smart stuff and not dull for a single minute.
One of the many smart things that "Eye In the Sky" does is walk a very steady line right down the middle of the issues at play.
Every time a character presents a very compelling argument one way another will very soon deliver an equally valid counter argument.
It's exciting stuff by nature of the subject matter but also because this film constantly challenges your beliefs.
Director Gavin Hood (who also cameos as US Colonel Walsh) is probably best known for "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" but this film is a far, far better representation of his talent.
There is more than a little "Zero Dark Thirty" about the way the film is constructed and like that film the end result is sleek and clear.
Guy Hibbert's script explains everything clearly but without making the viewer feel that they are being spoonfed.
There is also a lack of flashy moments and everything seems grounded in reality - there is no giving in to action movie impulses to give the audience some fireworks.
Another aspect of the film that I credit with its success is the casting.
Obviously Helen Mirren in the lead is an absolute no-brainer.
It hardly needs stating what a major talent she is.
Colonel Powell is a staunch, confident character who is never in doub that taking out the terrorists is the correct call - whatever the collateral damage.
There is the tendency not to recognise the brave choices that Mirren takes in selecting some of her roles because she does it so often but this is another example.
This applies to Alan Rickman in his last role also.
On the surface his character may appear to be a cliched military man who just wants to pull triggers but he is afforded several opportunities to reveal how much thought and experience there is behind his opinions.
This pair and all around them do stellar work and although it is 'just talking' it is nail-biting stuff.
Same applies for the on-the-ground stuff in the form of Barkhad Abdi's undercover agent Jama Farah.
Abdi rose to fame playing the lead pirate in Tom Hank's "Captain Phillips" but his work here is even better.
Using a super cool surveillance camera in the form of a flying insect robot (I am not kidding!) he sets up camp next to the target house disguised as a trader selling buckets.
He must deal with not only the delicate task of flying a buy undetected into the house but do so while watching out for attentions of armed local militia and the curiosity of a local boy.
I liked this character a lot and Abdi is perfect.
He gets what counts for the action scenes here and it is thanks to his portrayal that the investment in his character is that little bit greater still.
Aaron Paul is very good as the drone pilot but I wonder if a less well known actor might have been the better bet.
Nothing against Paul who is very, very good but it was often hard for me to get Jesse from "Breaking Bad" out of my mind as he struggled with his emotions.
"Eye In the Sky" runs at 102 minutes but feels a lot shorter.
It never chickens out in presenting the cold hard facts about the particular kind of war it is concerned with.
What if you kill a kid or two but it saves the lives of ten or twenty times that many by preventing an attack?
If you stop the attack will the media consider the lives saved or just vilify you for the ones taken?
By killing innocents aren't you just radicalising more people against you?
These issues and many, many more arise.
"Eye In the Sky" is clever about which it confronts head on and those that it leaves for you to figure out for yourself.
Rickman has a great moment late in the film with Monica Dolan ("Sightseers") in which he has the chance to voice his thoughts clearly but for the most part the many shade of the argument are presented in various levels of clarity.
Even the entire process by which the kill order is granted is scrutinised with one major playing delaying vital input due to an upset stomach!
Many participants refuse to make decisions that they are charged with making - such is the scrutiny every time a shot is fired.
This one gives you plenty to think about and doesn't let you off easy- regardless of which way you are inclined to lean.
It's a fitting last on screen appearance for the great Alan Rickman and is really great stuff from go to wo.
Strongly recommended.
RATING: 88 / 100
CONCLUSION: Smart, compelling stuff that never forgoes intelligence for whizz bang effects. Brilliantly written, directed and acted this is a must see.
Screenplay: Guy Hibbert
Music Score by: Paul Hepker, Mark Kilian
Cinematography: Haris Zambarloukos
Edited by: Megan Gill
Running Time: 102 minutes
Rated: M - Language and war violence
An image of this movies poster could easily sit in the dictionary next to the definition for the word 'topical'.
In a world where government responses to terror attacks are as big in news terms as the events that they were reactions to "Eye In the Sky" is bang on topical target with its plot and the themes that it explores.
Basically this is a 100 minute 'shoot / don't shoot' debate as a host of military and political people try to decide if they should launch a Hellfire missile from an ever circling drone into a Kenyan house containing several terrorists preparing for a suicide bomb attack.
From that synopsis the answer might appear very simple but there is a complication.
A young civilian girl has set up a stall to sell bread right outside the wall of the house with the crosshairs over it.
The military are quite sure that they should still go ahead but on the politician side they are not as convinced.
The debate takes place in several rooms all linked by phone and video.
Chiefly in Northwood HQ, Hertfordshire where Helen Mirren's Colonel Katherine Powell co-ordinates the whole thing as mission lead.
She has contact with the Kenyan military and there is also a man on the street gathering intel using some amazingly impressive technology.
She is also in touch with Creech Air Force Base in Las Vegas where the Reaper drone that will fire the missile is controlled from.
And then there is the group of politicians and one Lieutenant General gathered around a London table with whom she must seek authority to give the kill order.
Yes- this is basically a people in rooms talking kind of movie but that should in no way put you off.
This is tense, smart stuff and not dull for a single minute.
 |
| The cast includes Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman (in his last role) and Aaron Paul |
Every time a character presents a very compelling argument one way another will very soon deliver an equally valid counter argument.
It's exciting stuff by nature of the subject matter but also because this film constantly challenges your beliefs.
Director Gavin Hood (who also cameos as US Colonel Walsh) is probably best known for "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" but this film is a far, far better representation of his talent.
There is more than a little "Zero Dark Thirty" about the way the film is constructed and like that film the end result is sleek and clear.
Guy Hibbert's script explains everything clearly but without making the viewer feel that they are being spoonfed.
There is also a lack of flashy moments and everything seems grounded in reality - there is no giving in to action movie impulses to give the audience some fireworks.
 |
| One of the many highlights for me is the performance of Barkhad Abdi |
Obviously Helen Mirren in the lead is an absolute no-brainer.
It hardly needs stating what a major talent she is.
Colonel Powell is a staunch, confident character who is never in doub that taking out the terrorists is the correct call - whatever the collateral damage.
There is the tendency not to recognise the brave choices that Mirren takes in selecting some of her roles because she does it so often but this is another example.
This applies to Alan Rickman in his last role also.
On the surface his character may appear to be a cliched military man who just wants to pull triggers but he is afforded several opportunities to reveal how much thought and experience there is behind his opinions.
This pair and all around them do stellar work and although it is 'just talking' it is nail-biting stuff.
 |
| The Reaper drone is almost a character itself |
Abdi rose to fame playing the lead pirate in Tom Hank's "Captain Phillips" but his work here is even better.
Using a super cool surveillance camera in the form of a flying insect robot (I am not kidding!) he sets up camp next to the target house disguised as a trader selling buckets.
He must deal with not only the delicate task of flying a buy undetected into the house but do so while watching out for attentions of armed local militia and the curiosity of a local boy.
I liked this character a lot and Abdi is perfect.
He gets what counts for the action scenes here and it is thanks to his portrayal that the investment in his character is that little bit greater still.
Aaron Paul is very good as the drone pilot but I wonder if a less well known actor might have been the better bet.
Nothing against Paul who is very, very good but it was often hard for me to get Jesse from "Breaking Bad" out of my mind as he struggled with his emotions.
 |
| Director Gavin Hood directs Barkhad Abdi (Hood also has a small role in the film) |
It never chickens out in presenting the cold hard facts about the particular kind of war it is concerned with.
What if you kill a kid or two but it saves the lives of ten or twenty times that many by preventing an attack?
If you stop the attack will the media consider the lives saved or just vilify you for the ones taken?
By killing innocents aren't you just radicalising more people against you?
These issues and many, many more arise.
"Eye In the Sky" is clever about which it confronts head on and those that it leaves for you to figure out for yourself.
Rickman has a great moment late in the film with Monica Dolan ("Sightseers") in which he has the chance to voice his thoughts clearly but for the most part the many shade of the argument are presented in various levels of clarity.
Even the entire process by which the kill order is granted is scrutinised with one major playing delaying vital input due to an upset stomach!
Many participants refuse to make decisions that they are charged with making - such is the scrutiny every time a shot is fired.
This one gives you plenty to think about and doesn't let you off easy- regardless of which way you are inclined to lean.
It's a fitting last on screen appearance for the great Alan Rickman and is really great stuff from go to wo.
Strongly recommended.
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