Let’s Get Reel: Eye in the Sky

Eye in the Sky is a new British film with an ensemble cast by director Gavin Hood about a fictitious mission against terrorists in Kenya. But, what most people will take away from this film is that it is that movie about drones. And while the plot is made-up, the scenario feels very real. Hood does a masterful job of translating the debate on drones to the big screen, all while avoiding being didactic or peddling a simple message.

Eye in the Sky follows the events that transpire during one mission in three different places: a command center in the U.K., a drone piloting facility in Nevada and the actual site of the mission in Kenya. In the U.K., Colonel Catherine Powell (Helen Mirren) is in charge of the mission oversight. She is desperate to see this mission succeed and to see either the capture or termination of two high-level terrorists. Assisting her in Britain is Lieutenant General Frank Benson (Alan Rickman) who is broadcasting the mission for several high-level British bureaucrats. In America, 2nd Lieutenant Steve Watts (Aaron Paul) is in charge of piloting the drone for the mission. And in Kenya, Jama Farah (Barkhad Abdi) is an undercover Kenyan working for the British intelligence. When the mission fails to go as planned, the military and political leaders have to decide what they are willing to sacrifice in order to complete the mission.

What is most impressive about this movie is its script. Obviously a movie about drone warfare is going to involve a lot of discussion about its morality and this movie does a fantastic job conveying all the arguments both for and against using drones. That right there should be enough for this to be a fantastic movie because they could have easily gone for the simple “drones are bad” message. As well, you really feel like you get to know all of these characters and their motivations and no one feels like they are flat character there to represent an archetype. There is the “peaceful one” and the “aggressive warrior,” but you really feel the reasons why they all act like they do.

As well, the realism of this movie is fantastic. From the international coordination of military missions to the political involvement. It also was nice to see the Kenyan Muslims portrayed with some nuance. Too often, film directors are afraid of portraying Islamic fundamentalism on screen and instead opt for a “noble savage” caricature which is worse. This movie is fine showing peaceful Muslims, violent Muslims, tolerant Muslims, intolerant Muslims just like any group of people. The one thing that I did not like about the movie was the use of some “far-fetched” military technology like animal look-alike drones, which really pulled me out of the movie.

If you are at all interested in the debate about the use of drones, this is your movie. It certainly will not leave with an answer but it is a conversation starter.