Eye in the Sky

A low-key yet often thoroughly tense drama, Eye in the Sky follows several characters as they debate (and debate) the pros and cons of employing a drone strike against a Middle Eastern home occupied by known terrorists. It’s clear that Eye in the Sky takes its time in wholeheartedly capturing the interest and attention of the viewer, with the movie’s somewhat iffy opening stretch slowly-but-surely giving way to a midsection that’s rife with captivating sequences. Filmmaker Gavin Hood, along with scripter Guy Hibbert, does an effective job of infusing the narrative with a sense of escalation in terms of the deadly scenario, and it’s clear that the movie’s surfeit of top-notch performances go a long way towards perpetuating the progressively engaging vibe. (The film boasts stellar work from, among others, Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, Barkhad Abdi, and, in one of his final film roles, Alan Rickman.) The stageplay-like atmosphere is, as a result, generally not as claustrophobic and oppressive as one might’ve imagined, as the various levels of red tape and bureaucracy facing the characters becomes more and more intriguing as time progresses (ie there’s something inherently fascinating in the almost relentless buck-passing that occurs before a decision can be made). And although the film is probably just a hair too long, a feeling compounded by a fairly underwhelming conclusion, Eye in the Sky is nevertheless a refreshingly adult endeavor that shines a potent spotlight on a fascinating (and quite relevant) contemporary issue.

*** out of ****