Eye in the Sky - 4.5 Stars

An emotionally draining war movie that features stunning performances and looks at the consequences of our actions.

When UK intelligence officer Colonel Katherine Powel discovers the terrorists she is tracking are planning a deadly suicide attack, her mission escalates from “capture” to “kill”. American drone pilot Steve Watts is poised to engage when, suddenly, a nine-year old girl enters the kill zone. Eye in the Sky explores the ethical conundrum of collateral damage; should one innocent life be sacrificed to save hundreds more? It takes us into a moral and political minefield, where every decision comes at a steep price.

Alan Rickman’s recent passing has certainly brought this film to the attention of the mainstream and it deserves to be noticed. Not only does Rickman and the whole ensemble cast (Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, Barkhad Abdi) offer some of the finest performances in recent cinema, but the film’s moral dilemma poses for interesting cinema. The film is so emotionally intense, I felt physically drained after leaving the cinema. Due to the brilliance of the writing I was fully immersed, not wanting to draw breath. It is rare in cinema that something is this captivating, no matter how good a film.

Overall I cannot recommend this film enough, it is superb and at the end ask yourself the question of what would you have done. This is the greatest way to remember Allan Rickman, as a true master of his art.

4.5 Stars

Review by Benjamin Mackay

Screening courtesy of Palace Nova Cinemas