Can someone get Shia LaBeouf’s agent working for me?  This kid is everywhere, and rightfully so, he’s a pretty good actor.  But how about his new IMax flick “Eagle Eye“? 

The movie is steeped in action, with more than a dash of drama and a tinge of comedy, overlayed on a plot that sucks you in quickly and doesn’t spit you out until the very end.  As far as action films go Eagle Eye is 20/20.

I’m not a fan of movies that exceed believability within their own context.  If Aliens are taking over the world, it doesn’t mean a cop car can hit a pile of dirt and fly 600 yards over a building. 
Eagle Eye pushed the envelope a couple of times, but not so much that I didn’t enjoy it.  There are of course some major flaws, that could have been abated during the aftermath debriefing. 

Read on to learn more about what makes Eagle Eye worth or not worth seeing.

With some familiar faces of Billy Bob Thornton, Michael Chiklis, Rosario Dawson, Michelle Monaghan and a small part for Ethan Embry, the movie definitely had a strong cast.  There was even a quick spot for Jerry Ferrara from my favorite HBO series Entourage.

Ok, so the acting was good, the premise was good and the flow was good.  So what prevents this from being a great movie?  For starters, Eagle Eye is an action flick, a difficult genera to capture greatness, although “The Dark Knight” reached such status within the comicbook genera, so it’s definitely not impossible. 

The first thing that really bothered me about Eagle Eye was the flashy editing; you’re not fooling me into thinking there’s more action because you spliced together a bunch of scenes faster than my eye can determine what the hell is going on.  How about one fluid shot?  If people are fighting I want to see it, not some quick busts of light that give me motion sickness; Hollywood needs to drop this habit fast…hint hint Jim Page.

Before I get into some of the other problems that will inevitably keep this film from winning gold, lets talk quickly about the plot. 
Basically, a super computer capable of tapping into every satellite, voice, video, data, and electrical signal on the planet (including cell phones while they’re not being used), utilizes these mediums to analyze everything from physical characteristics and personality traits, to controlling automated systems, electronics, and information. When this computer goes rogue and takes on a life of it’s own, apparently due to strict programming protocol designed to protect the people of the United States, a young man and woman get caught as pones in the AI’s super plan to eliminate the upper echelon of the Executive Branch of the United States government.

The super computer “Aurea” initiates operation Guillotine (plan to eliminate 12 top U.S. executive branch members) because the U.S. President and advisors carried out an air strike based on faulty Intel; the strike left approximately 50 innocent middle eastern people dead.  Against Aurea’s and the Secretary of Defenses (Michael Chiklis) recommendation, the president executed the strike when the positive ID for the target was only 51% and casualties were estimated to be high.

Ok, lets assume there is a computer capable of simultaneously performing local and remote tasks, analyzing every Americans actions and personality, and most importantly collecting information and determining relevance and application without the designers, operators, or programmers realizing anything is awry. 

Wouldn’t the computer determine the presidents personality to identify his character and genuine intent on protecting American lives? 
Ok, even I can get past that minor flaw, but what I don’t understand is this:

If the entire plot to kill the top leaders of the United States government was based on their failure to protect lives, then how could the computers strict adherence to safety and preservation of life justify or even initiate a plot that would inevitably result in the death of a massive amount of innocent people? 

How about all the police officers and innocent civilians that were killed throughout the movie?  What about the innocent music man, the people in the tunnel, or everyone attending the State of the Union (including an elementary school band)?  Are these people expendable?

This major flaw contradicts the entire premise the movie was built on.  It could have possibly been abated by explaining a programming error, but with no reference we the audience are to assume the computer bases its actions on a strict set of commands and principals taken to the extreme.  

Another important question I have is:
If the massive AI computer can so easily kill people throughout the entire movie, why does it need an elaborate plan to explode the entire State of the Union audience, why can’t Aurea just take each of the 12 officials out individually, with a car crash, or crane or any other method used throughout the film?  Oh, and if Aurea wanted Michael Chiklis as president, she’d only have to knock off half her list, as the Secretary of Defense is sixth in line for the presidency after the VP, Speaker of the House, President pro tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State, and the Secretary of the Treasury.

I do like how the writers worked in the physical need to have Jerry (Shia LaBeouf) present at the Pentagon, but if Aurea needed him, she wouldn’t risk his life so easily at the beginning of the film.  There was no need to implement him as a terrorist (sending all the gear to his apartment), the only thing that accomplished was getting Billy Bob on his trail.  Also, there must have been another option for over riding the system lock, otherwise when someone who didn’t have an identical twin was to die, a multi-billion dollar project could be rendered useless.

Alright, I could go on with the little stuff all day, but the fact remains that this movie did its job.  It entertained me for 2 hours and 39 minutes.  It made a solid statement about government surveillance and the advancement of technology.  It suitably showed the struggles of parenthood and presented a subplot love story that wasn’t rushed, rather captured just right and emphasized by the closing scene. 

There’s definitely good movies to be seen in the theater, but if adventure is what you crave, my recommendation would be to check out Eagle Eye on Imax, but only if you can sit back fo
r two and half hours and let it take you on a ride. 

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!