Fate Flying in the Air, Fate Decided Behind Closed Doors

Helen Mirren in "Eye in the Sky"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com 

In films with war at the focus, we view the fighting between armies and the horrors of the battlefield.  In a select few, however, we mainly see the war from the other side, the side that acts as a behind-the-scenes of what’s going on, similar to Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove” and Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty.”  It is in these films where we see the makings of some of the biggest decisions of the conflicts presented.

Director Gavin Hood uses this approach to wartime storytelling in his thriller “Eye in the Sky,” a film that thrives on unwavering suspense, superb acting, tense direction, and questions of morals in a time of war.

Colonel Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren), a military intelligence officer, is tasked with capturing Al-Shabaab extremists who are meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.  When a drone presents aerial surveillance that show the possibility of the extremists planning another suicide bombing, Powell changes the mission from “capture” to “kill.”  However, there are other officials who are hesitant to move forward with such a decision that could potentially kill any civilians who are within close range of the target.  Powell, among others, soon find themselves in a debate about the proper course of action to take before time runs out.

Mirren delivers a performance that comes from a different angle than what I anticipated.  Going into the film, I expected her character to me the morally conflicted center of the story as to whether or not to go ahead with the drone strike.  Instead, her character is determined to take out her targets, leaving the audience to decide if they agree with her suggested course of action.  This is another strong performance from Mirren, and the power she puts into it helps us get invested in her dilemma and question whether or not she’s doing the right thing.

Other than Mirren, the film comes complete with many terrific supporting performances, including Aaron Paul, Barkhad Abdi, Phoebe Fox, and the penultimate performance by Alan Rickman, who passed away earlier this year.

The screenplay by Guy Hibbert poses questions regarding the ethics behind the use of drones in modern warfare.  Amidst the tension risen by the situation, we are taken back and forth from all parties that are participating in the discussions on what should be done with the time-sensitive matter at hand.  He creates a well-paced story that builds on its edge-of-your-seat scenario and presents all points of view in great detail that provide us with a window into what’s going through the minds of the characters as they try to agree on how to handle the delicate situation.

Even though most of the film is dialogue-driven, director Hood keeps the suspense going with the heated debates that constantly reveal layers to the legal and ethical difficulties with the film’s scenario.  He successfully builds the pressure from the start of the film when the mission is presented to when time dwindles down and a decision has to be made about to do.  

“Eye in the Sky” poses questions that will probably have you switching between the viewpoints as you watch the film, and this all makes for a compelling and thought-provoking viewing experience.

Grade: A