Film Review

Title: Eagle Eye

Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monahan, Billy Bob Thornton

Director: D.J. Caruso

Studio Dreamworks

Release Date: Sept. 26, 2008

Running Time: 118 Minutes

Audience Suitability: PG

Reviewed By: Robert Waldman (Vancouver Correspondent – Canada)

Wall to wall action comes easy for accomplished director D.J. Caruso (Disturbia) with Eagle Eye, a savvy thriller from Dreamworks Pictures now thrilling audiences.  Park your brain at home and go along for the ride in this high octane chase film.

Being second banana to anyone can be a trying experience.  Take the case of one Jerry Shaw; born into a hard-working family this young man can’t quite live up to his dad’s expectations, unlike his man-in-uniform brother.  Through some quirk Jerry gets caught up in danger when one day his life is turned upside down.

Unbeknownst to Jerry he apparently has been “targeted” by some mysterious organization that sees him running “errands” for a possible terrorist cell. Or so the authorities think.  While Jerry is on the run from the law a young woman named Rachel Holloman also finds herself in a similar rather precarious situation.

Moment by moment the pair get overtaken by events as their lives become sort of “programmed” by a strange sounding guide who manages to maneuver the pair through a series of death-defying events.  Scores of people go by the wayside as these two manage to elude what seems like the entire security forces of the United States as the government agents do their best to capture the two runaway fugitives from the law.

Way back when famed writer George Orwell gave us his classic novel, the futuristic 1984; well, that year has come and gone and now we are knee deep in unbelievable technology.  Gadgets and government control make up a key part of Eagle Eye along with a nice mix of military might and spy hardware good enough to rival any of the more recent 007 encounters.  While elements of this film may have been seen before in such action classics as Enemy of the State and Die Hard 4 thanks to a great cast you can’t help but sense the fear and edge of your seat excitement that never lets up, no matter how preposterous things get.

Hunk sensation Shia LaBeouf (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) is terrific as this mild mannered guy thrust into a life or death struggle continuously.  Up to snuff too is Michelle Monaghan (Gone Baby Gone) whose portrayal as a loving mom in the fight of her life is also terrific.  Emotions run high as do the endless chase scenes here that will appeal to action fans across the globe.

Super secondary characters portrayed by consummate actors like Billy Bob Thornton, Michael Chiklis and Rosario Dawson further enhance the mood in this tale of danger and intrigue.  Despite a few too many convenient messages and some scenes that are just too damn predictable and hard to believe Eagle Eye is a top flight action adventure guaranteed to get even the coldest hearts pumping wildly.