Wow what an utterly brilliant movie, I’m tempted to just write … GO SEE IT. It’s not a dry movie about war, it presents you with a difficult moral dilemma. The action had me literally sitting on the edge of my seat, though I must admit I was busting for a toilet break, and in the end I had to race out and back in again before resuming my abdominal workout position.
Thanks to Luna Palace
The action in Gavin Hood’s new thriller takes place across four settings – a dusty Kenyan safehouse housing a key person of interest; a palatial London office where ministers must decide whether to drop missiles or not; a small room where two young inexperienced soldiers have control over the eye in the sky that will drop the missiles; and an enclosed dark command bunker full of television screens streaming live footage of the action on the ground.
Things become more interesting when the latest technology (drones disguised as birds and bugs) beams back images of the safehouse occupants donning suicide vests. What to do?
Thanks to Luna Palace
The UK- based Colonel (a wonderfully controlled but exacerbated Helen Mirren) is hell bent on wiping out the person she’s spent years tracking. But if she thought tracking that person was hard, it turns out to be nothing compared to the political and changing circumstances she has to manage. Meanwhile the Head of Defence (a delightfully bewildered Alan Rickman) is tasked with trying to get the ministers to make a decision, not an easy task.
As time drags on and decisions are avoided by hilarious means, the young solider charged with pushing the trigger (Aaron Paul) waits for instructions.
The action reaches another level entirely, when a young local girl skips into view and parks herself in front of the safehouse then spreads out her daily wares ready for sale … bread … ten loaves of bread. The characters and the audience are left with the moral dilemma … what does the life of one little girl mean, compared to a group of people, if left unchecked, will likely kill thousands?
Thanks to Luna Palace
I won’t tell you the end as I really want you to see it, but as I continue to ponder about the film weeks on I’m reminded ….
- Of the Yes Minister scenarios played out by Alan Rickman and his counterparts. The Ministerial scenarios are utterly brilliant, and highly imaginable which makes them incredibly scary at the same time.
- The spy drones disguised as birds and bugs were fascinating and left me pondering whether they were fiction or fact.
- It was both sad and wonderful to see Alan Rickman on screen so soon after his passing. A reminder that actors never really leave us. What a pity this isn’t the case for everyone, that we can’t crank up the old projector and see everyday people long departed. Note to self: take more photos and videos of family and friends.
- You’ll need to stay until the very end, when even the credits will move you.
Eye In The Sky is a must see. It’s on at Cinema Paradiso and Windsor Cinema. For more information go to Luna Cinemas.