Page 48 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 123

48 Issue #123 April 2023
In Reel Time
Game of Drones
By Nikolai Adams
ealing with the moral quandary
Dof a drone strike, Eye in the Sky
(2016) captures the complex nature
of pulling the trigger when you’re
thousands of miles away from your
target.
Written by Guy Hibbert and
directed by Gavin Hood, the story
demonstrates the interconnectedness
of military decision making in
the twenty-first century. Colonel
Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren)
is running a complicated capture
mission from a military base in
England. She is attempting to seize
high value targets from a terrorist
group, including Susan Danford
(Lex King) – a British citizen turned
terrorist (on the top-ten most wanted
list). After many long years, Colonel
Powell finally has a bead on the
elusive militants – who are making a
stop in a safehouse in Nairobi.
Along with her team in the bunker,
she has men on the ground in Kenya
– one of which is undercover agent
Jama Farah (Barkhad Abdi – Captain
Phillips). Using a combination of
physical tracking and technology
(the man uses miniature cameras
that look like insects – called
insectothopters), the man follows
the group of criminals and provides
an eye into the tautly guarded
safehouse. Colonel Powell also has
soldiers waiting in a nearby building
– as they will
be the ones who have the task of
grabbing the individuals.
The entire operation is viewed from
overhead by way of a drone flown by
Steve Watts (Aaron Paul – Breaking
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Bad), a man working at an air force
base in Nevada. He is partnered with
fellow pilot Carrie Gershon (Phoebe
Fox), who helps him with managing
the complex piece of equipment.
There is also someone working
on getting facial recognition of
the terrorists – she can be found in
Hawaii.
The mission is being supervised
by a panel led by Lieutenant General
Frank Benson (Alan Rickman – in
his last onscreen performance). The
board also features British Attorney
General George Matherson (Richard
McCabe), government minister
Brian Woodale (Jeremy Northam), Photo Submitted
as well as two other government
officials. with the plan, which forces the character, who has been hunting
When it is discovered that military officers to run the proposal these elusive targets for years. This
the terrorists are arming suicide up to British Foreign Secretary has been her goal for eons and she
bombers within the compound – James Willett (Iain Glen – Game does not want them to slip away once
for an imminent attack, the mission of Thrones) – who is dealing with a again. It is equally as convincing
promptly switches from capture bout of food poisoning in Singapore. to watch Paul’s Steve Watts, who
to kill. Depending on which side The conundrum of whether the threat would have to watch from afar as
you take, an in depth discussion (or is justifiable enough to strike – and he pulls the trigger (from thousands
political red tape) takes place as the possibly risk the lives of those living of miles away) – having to live with
wide group of individuals working and working around the compound, the killing of countless innocent
on the complex mission struggle to is debated, as the seconds tick away bystanders in the name of doing his
deal with the reality of the situation from them being able to achieve job. Each character has an angle that
and the collateral damage that may their mission. Will they strike or will makes them altogether intriguing
come from the proposed drone strike the high value targets evade capture and wholly believable.
(as there is a young girl selling once again?
bread just outside the walls of the Director Gavin Hood constructs a Eye in the Sky is a rivetting
safehouse). The team, that ranges taut, tense military thriller that puts us piece of film. Playing somewhat
from Hawaii to right in the midst of a seemingly lose/ like an extended episode of 24 or
Kenya, are at odds with each other, lose situation – where either decision Homeland, so much rides on each
as Colonel Powell and Lieutenant will seemingly lead to a high death and every minuscule decision. Much
General Benson see a short window toll. Bringing together a brilliant like the varied opinions of the many
to achieve their goal of eliminating grouping of character actors, the characters, this one will likely leave
its audience divided (though not in
the high value targets, while Watts film thrives on a simple yet effective
struggles with the scenario that scenario. With each player capturing the quality of the production). So I
will see him pull the trigger. Other the emotional reality of the situation, won’t continue to drone on, just set
government officials that are part the film’s concept feels utterly real. your sights on this dramatic war
of the advisory panel also disagree It is not difficult to buy Mirren’s thriller.