“Eagle Eye”

(2008) (rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and for language) (1 hr, 58 min)

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thorton, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, Anthony Mackie, Ethan Embry

Genre: Action/Mystery/Thriller

The Plot: Jerry and Rachel are two strangers thrown together by a mysterious phone call from a woman they have never met. Threatening their lives and family, she pushes Jerry and Rachel into a series of increasingly dangerous situations, using the technology of everyday life to track and control their every move.

MY TAKE (spoiler free):

Like most good action/thrillers this movie doesn’t take long to get going or to jump into the main storyline… the story and plot twists are solid, the acting is good – with no roles or actors wasted, the high-tech parts of the movie aren’t difficult to understand, the effects and stunts help the story and don’t distract from it…  BUT BE READY TO BE AN ACTIVE VIEWER - the movie is constantly throwing a lot of information at you to process quickly.

If they aren’t household names yet, up and coming actors Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan should be after this movie – both jump right into the roles as civilians on the run from the government and being led by a mysterious voice - they are totally believeable and play the roles as if this is real people going through everything – they pull of these roles with no weaknesses !!!

Michael Chiklis has been a household name for awhile, and while he isn’t in much of this movie – his role is not wasted – he was great and totally believable in this role as a Defense Secretary walking the thin line between tracking down the bad guys and not getting the wrong guys.

Billy Bob Thorton is good as the old salty FBI agent who is chasing LaBeouf and Monaghan.

While it might seem wierd, the director builds in enough reasons for why the characters feel they need to follow the mysterious voice on the other end of the phone line.

I also like how Director D.J. Caruso has a lot of camera shots from overhead (to build in that feeling of big brother watching us)… but much like “Enemy of the State” did in 1998, he also uses a lot of the technology to show the scene too.. as we watch through security cameras, cell phones, and computers.

THE BOTTOM LINE: 

The story is tight, the editing is tight, the acting is tight… this is an edge of your seat, what happens next thriller that keeps you guessing and interested all the way through… I give it 8.5 out of 10…. a great effort that furthers the careers of LaBeouf and Monaghan and Director D.J. Caruso.

So what did you think?  Please post a comment!

“Eagle Eye” poster courtesy Dreamworks SKG

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