"Eye in the Sky" - thriller starring Helen Mirren

[Will.]

EYE IN THE SKY stars Helen Mirren as Colonel Katherine Powell, a UK-based military officer in command of a top secret drone operation to capture terrorists in Kenya. Through remote surveillance and on-the-ground intel, Powell discovers the targets are planning a suicide bombing and the mission escalates from "capture" to "kill." But as American pilot Steve Watts (Aaron Paul) is about to engage, a nine-year old girl enters the kill zone triggering an international dispute, reaching the highest levels of US and British government, over the moral, political, and personal implications of modern warfare.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOqeoj669xg

[ditcin]

Give me a break. These people want to wipe us out and liberal filmmakers push this crap on the public. If this were WWII we never would have won the war. Why don't we just put this one on "bleeding heart theater"
Also, how many times is the same title going to be used by untalented or original filmmakers.

[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by ditcin

Give me a break. These people want to wipe us out and liberal filmmakers push this crap on the public. If this were WWII we never would have won the war. Why don't we just put this one on "bleeding heart theater"
Also, how many times is the same title going to be used by untalented or original filmmakers.

I've seen this movie. It is definitely NOT liberal bleeding heart crap. It's completely apolitical. It shows both sides of the debate over the West's use of drone strikes. Honestly, the left comes off looking the worst with the way they're obsessed with the political fallout of collateral damage vs preemptively stopping a future suicide bombing.

And BTW, the movie was terrific. Definitely the best film of 2016 thus far. And it reminded me why Alan Rickman will be missed so much. He was fantastic in his final live action role.

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by Adam_ME

I've seen this movie. It is definitely NOT liberal bleeding heart crap. It's completely apolitical. It shows both sides of the debate over the West's use of drone strikes. Honestly, the left comes off looking the worst with the way they're obsessed with the political fallout of collateral damage vs preemptively stopping a future suicide bombing.

And BTW, the movie was terrific. Definitely the best film of 2016 thus far. And it reminded me why Alan Rickman will be missed so much. He was fantastic in his final live action role.

Yeah, while Good Kill has an anti-drone message, this one is much less political and balanced showing the positives and negatives of all sides. And Rickman (not to mention the acting in general) is great, his character's final speech was so compelling that it had convinced me to come around to his side in the end.

[Talleyrand]

Originally Posted by ditcin

Give me a break. These people want to wipe us out and liberal filmmakers push this crap on the public. If this were WWII we never would have won the war. Why don't we just put this one on "bleeding heart theater"

Someone didn't see the film....

[TommySyk]

Saw this film two weeks ago. Pretty good flick.

My Review

This film and Ender's Game are the defining proof that the tragedy that was X-Men Origins was totally on the studio heads behind it and not the talent (or lack of) involved. Here, Gavin Hood delivers a morally challenging film that delves deep into both the US military system (and how it works) and the unfortunate costs of war.

Hood's direction is confident throughout, completely trusting the actors in translating the emotional script onto the screen. Aaron Paul delivers perhaps his best performance post-Breaking Bad, and his co-star Phoebe Fox does just as well. Both Helen Mirren and Barkhad Abdi are good, but the true star of the picture is the late Alan Rickman, whose presence alone makes this film worthwhile.

Truth be told, I was forced to see this film when I didn't really want to, but it was a very pleasant surprise. At first glance, it didn't look very interesting, but Eye in the Sky never really bored me. Instead, it kept me on the edge of my seat, despite a few pacing issues here and there (even though some of the government stuff frustrated me) - more than that, it toyed with my emotions and morals. Throughout, I was convinced of what I thought was the only rational response to the dilemma that arises before the characters, but it was like the film wanted me to question myself, or at the very least make me feel guilty. And that's ultimately the mark of a good film.

[jacobsever]

I can't be the only person with zero interest in this film. I mean, I pretty much have zero interest in 90% of all war films.

Although, I do want to see Hyena Road.

[TommySyk]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

I can't be the only person with zero interest in this film. I mean, I pretty much have zero interest in 90% of all war films.

Although, I do want to see Hyena Road.

I had zero interest in this as well. I was going to see Tale of Tales but my dad insisted I saw this movie with him and I was pleasantly surprised. I don't really like war movies too, but this one's different.

[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

I can't be the only person with zero interest in this film. I mean, I pretty much have zero interest in 90% of all war films.

Although, I do want to see Hyena Road.

Give it a look if you get a chance. I was skeptical and only went because I had a free pass to a screening. I figured it would be slanted politically in one direction, but it really did address both sides of the debate with realism and respect. I'm not kidding when I say it's easily the best film I've seen so far this year.

[Talleyrand]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

I can't be the only person with zero interest in this film. I mean, I pretty much have zero interest in 90% of all war films.

Although, I do want to see Hyena Road.

Both of those you mentioned are great. It's a little odd to be more interested in Hyena Road (a good Canadian film, as well) than this if you don't like war films in general, though. I'd recommend both though.

[Britnasty]

Saw it yesterday.

5/5. Excellent little political thriller.

I was on the edge of my seat for the last half of the movie. Helen Mirren was excellent as expected! Alan Rickman, so sad to see him on the big screen in one of his final roles.