"Eye in the Sky" is a film that starts off slow, momentarily challenges your patience but builds on something complex and extraordinary. There is more to the film than what's on the surface, which helps create a tense and thought-provoking experience.
Drone warfare isn't new territory in films. Just last year, Ethan Hawke headlined "Good Kill," which followed his day-to-day life as he operated armed drones. That film showed the addictive nature of war, where "Eye in the Sky" takes drone operations to a different level, asking hard questions that none of the characters seem prepared to answer.
Helen Mirren stars as Colonel Katherine Powell, who is in charge of a team that is keeping a close look on a house in Kenya. The house is inhabited with terrorists, one who is American, who reveal a massive cache of explosives. Colonel Powell and her team notice the terrorists are putting on vests, signaling a suicide mission is going to happen.
The operation is wide raging, with input coming from in all directions. Colonel Powell is confident she has the best plan for getting rid of the terrorist group but she can't proceed without checking in with her commanding officer, Lt. General Frank Benson (the late Alan Rickman). The clock's ticking and Colonel Powell doesn't have time for all of these formalities.
That's exactly what "Eye in the Sky" is - a race against the ticking clock. Colonel Powell's word is good enough for her but she is surrounded by an extensive team who cannot proceed with the mission unless every aspect is examined. One of her subordinates, Steve Watts (Aaron Paul), throws a wrench in her plan with his uncertainty of the mission, which helps elevate the tension in the film.
Director Gavin Hood (who directed the great Oscar-winning foreign film "Tsotsi") even-handedly escalates the tension with every scene. It's a skillful way to create a tense experience for an audience and he never pounds us over the head all at once. Colonel Powell is in a small command center with her team and as the pressure rises, we feel the walls closing in on us, as if we are right there with the characters.
"Eye in the Sky" isn't a slam-bang action film but a methodical exploration of modern warfare. There are implications around every corner and they must be explored even if Colonel Powell isn't prepared to see what moral dilemma may be waiting for her.
Mirren is excellent as Powell. Coming off of her cartoony performance in "Trumbo," Mirren reminds us why she is one of the best actresses working. Her performance is equal doses of chilly and commanding.
Hood's film is definitely one to see. After the first few scenes, you may think you're bored but by the time the end credits roll, you'll be unclenching your hands from the theater seat armrest.
| Movie title | Eye in the Sky |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2016 |
| MPAA Rating | R |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | A methodical exploration of modern warfare that builds tension quietly and carefully in every scene. |
