EYE IN THE SKY (2016)

Genre: Thriller
Running Length: 1:42
Cast: Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman, Aaron Paul, Phoebe Fox, Barkhad Abdi
Director: Gavin Hood
Screenplay: Guy Hibbert

EYE IN THE SKY is a very different take on drone strikes compared to Ethan Hawke's Good Kill. The latter explores the stress and psychological effects on drone pilots. As for this movie, it provides an almost real-time comprehensive inside look on the procedures, bureaucracy and dare I say, the humanity of the firing of a single hellfire missile from a drone.

The premise sounds boring but it's far from it. Although positioned as a political/military drama, it's first and foremost a thriller. And boy, what a thriller! It gets so tensed at times one will start squirming in their seat.

The story is straightforward. Key members of al-Shabaab, a terrorist group, have gathered in a small house in a village in Kenya and they are preparing for an imminent suicide bombing. A military mission involving three governments is launched to capture or maybe kill those involved with a hovering drone. However, it gets complicated with the presence of a little innocent girl in the blast radius and 3 of the terrorists are British and US citizens.

The strength of this film is definitely the quality acting. Characters are revealed through their actions and reactions rather than clunky "this is what I'm doing" explanations. Take for example, Aaron Paul (of Breaking Bad fame) plays the deeply convicted pilot who has never shot a missile but is presented with the potential of squeezing the trigger. He rarely moves from his pilot seat but yet managed to convey a range of emotions when orders from the top are forced down upon him. The rest of the cast; Helen Mirren, Barkhad Abdi, the late Alan Rickman and the other supporting cast are all effective.

Although it gets a tad manipulative at times, the filmmakers succeeds in providing a non bias perspective on the issue at hand. It's refreshing to watch such a well-made, intelligent and "entertaining talky drama" in the cinema these days in the midst of loud and mindless superhero flicks and sequels.  

Rating: 9/10