Eye in the Sky is one of the best modern war films not made by Kathryn Bigelow. Almost Hitchcockian in its tightly-wound, clock-ticking immediacy, the film skates across its thin plotline and into our eyeballs with an urgent message of relevance and warning. If you didn't guess from the title, this picture concerns drone warfare against terrorists, the dangers of using such tactics, and the consequences on everyone involved.
It's possibly the first real-time war movie I've ever seen, and though that sounds unnecessary, here Gavin Hood shows us his masterful use of the running time. Alternating between the stories of the various players involved -- the British colonel in charge of the operation, her supervisor and his team, the American drone operators, the intelligence agents, the undercover Kenyan agents, and even the young Muslim family living next door to the suspected terrorist cell -- he quickly revs up the stakes, making each moment significant and profound, as time ticks by and the window of opportunity grows smaller. Nothing is taken for granted, and every emotional beat strikes home. It's a veritable chamber piece, and Hood maneuvers even the subtlest of emotional and tonal shifts with grace and inspiration.
The actors are all at their best. Given the focused, driven narrative, I was surprised by the range each player was able to show. I suppose that's a testament to both the actors and the screenwriter, Guy Hibbert. Helen Mirren of course runs the show in this world operated by men; Aaron Paul kills it as the ethically-torn drone operator and bomber. Alan Rickman steals the movie, though, in his last starring role as the lieutenant general in his supervisory meeting with COBRA. It's a great way to remember him, doing that lovely thing that he always does where he electrifies you and rips your heart out, all while giving what we might call a minimalist, heavily nuanced performance. Rest in peace.
Eye in the Sky, though timely and urgent, is never preachy or heavy-handed. Its simple narrative belies a riveting odyssey, riddled with thematic thickets and pitfalls we are forced to navigate on our own. It teaches us while it thrills us, and when we come out the other side we are changed. Unfortunately, in life and war, not everyone comes out the other side.
IMDb: Eye in the Sky
No comments:
Post a Comment