Films have often explored the psychological aftermath of war - most recently in "American Sniper" - in deeply effecting ways. Director Andrew Niccol's "Good Kill" falls somewhere just short of that.
Ethan Hawke stars as Major Thomas Egan. He is a former pilot who longs to be back in command of a plane. In the meantime, he operates armed drones, carrying out several lethal missions. There is a longing in Thomas' eyes. He shows up every day to the drone station but we know he wants to be anywhere but there. Thomas is lost and going through the motions, non-committedly muttering "good kill" after every successful mission. It's all just a routine for him.
Thomas lives in Las Vegas with his wife, Molly (January Jones), and their two children. When Thomas is home, he's not really there and Molly notices it in his facial expressions, voice and actions. She wants her husband back and their children want their father. Molly clearly doesn't understand what Thomas is going through, scolding him for working late and assuring him he will never fly again. Jones is saddled with such a clichéd wife role, completely one-dimensional throughout the entire movie. Her sole purpose seems to create conflict within the film.
Hawke is a terrific, understated actor. His performances never require much flash because he does not need any flash. His natural abilities bring each performance alive, creating a new person each time so organically, you think you have met these characters before. He balances the sadness and determination of the world-weary Thomas perfectly. His performance is the highlight of the film.
The movie itself is problematic, switching between Thomas at work and Thomas at home. It often feels a bit too episodic and a little too strategically edited by Zach Staenberg (an Oscar winner for editing "The Matrix"). Individual scenes are very effective and are often quite suspenseful but Staenberg fails to find any sense of fluidity. "Good Kill" feels like you are reading a chapter book and not watching a full-length feature film.
"Good Kill" offers some interesting insight to the addictive nature of war and combat, while commenting on drones, a fairly fresh perspective on a war film. Zoe Kravitz plays one of Thomas' team members and says, "I always think they can see us", referring to the people they kill or are spying on with their drones. It's one of the more effective and thought-provoking lines in "Good Kill", exploring the voyeuristic nature of the subject matter.
"Good Kill" is really strong when it works. Hawke absorbs us into the life of his character but editor Staenberg often takes us right out of it, cutting away far too quickly. It creates an uneven experience.
| Movie title | Good Kill |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2015 |
| MPAA Rating | R |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | With its focus on a drone pilot, this war film is a fresh but uneven perspective on the genre. |
