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Eagle Eye
Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan are two unsuspecting members of the public thrown together by mysterious forces determined to assassinate the president in this conspiracy thriller from the director of Disturbia
Executive producer Steven Spielberg has stated he wants people to leave the cinemas after seeing Eagle Eye and turn off their mobile phones for fear that they're being watched - just in the way audiences were scared to go back in the water after Jaws. Sadly, this is wishful thinking. With no less than four screenwriters (including Hillary Seitz who wrote Christopher Nolan's version of Insomnia) spoiling the broth, Eagle Eye comes nowhere near the power of Spielberg's shark classic. Reuniting actor Shia LaBeouf and director DJ Caruso, who collaborated on Disturbia, a film that was just as ludicrous as Eagle Eye, it begins with an irrelevant prologue, involving the US government eliminating a terror suspect in the Middle East. Cut to Jerry Shaw (LaBeouf), a "copy associate" at a printing store in Chicago who discovers his high-flying twin brother Ethan has died in a car crash. Meanwhile, across town, single mother Rachel Holloman (Monaghan) sees off her son as he heads to Washington DC to play in a school orchestra performing for the president. Soon enough, the two strangers are brought together as they are "activated". After discovering $750,000 in his account, Jerry arrives home to find explosives and other terrorist materials left in his room. At this point, he receives a call from an anonymous female voice (an uncredited Julianne Moore), urging him to leave in 30 seconds or the FBI will catch him. He doesn't, and they do, leaving him to be interrogated by Billy Bob Thornton's grizzled operative ("You're in a shit-load of trouble, son!"). But, courtesy of this seemingly all-seeing voice, Jerry makes a miraculous escape after a crane comes crashing into the building. It's a stunning set-piece that leads to a pumped-up chase sequence, as Jerry is guided towards a waiting Porsche by the voice. Inside, he finds a hysterical Rachel, who has been told by the same voice that if she doesn't obey her son will die. Soon enough, they're speeding across town, hotly pursued by the Feds, as the omniscient voice propels them to safety. Who the voice belongs to is revealed along the way, as Jerry and Rachel are unwittingly dragged into a plot to initiate a "regime change" and assassinate the president. Yep, underneath all the Hollywood high-concept dialogue is a story as well worn as that. Eagle Eye dresses up a tired old tale in fancy clothes. Adding a layer of credibility are Michael Chiklis as the Secretary of Defence and Rosario Dawson as a Special Agent tracking Jerry and Rachel - though both are little more than decoration. Driving the film, alongside Caruso's love of old-fashioned stunt-driven action, is LaBeouf. Quite why an actor as ordinary as him has got so far is a mystery, though perhaps this 'everyman' quality is just what makes him appealing. Unfortunately, the pairing with Monaghan, a bland actress at the best of times, lacks any serious chemistry. But, rather like the incredulous plotting, this barely seems to matter in the rush to get to the explosive finale. With the exception of Thornton, who injects a bit of personality into proceedings, there isn't much to power Eagle Eye apart from the adrenaline rush of the set-pieces. Caruso manages these superbly - and if that's all you're looking for in a film, then this will satisfy admirably. However, this is hardly North By Northwest and Caruso is no Hitchcock. If you lust after characterisation beyond the two-dimensional or credible plotting, this may not be for you. If you want a film that moves at 100mph, then go see Eagle Eye. Verdict With a preposterous plot that does not bear close analysis, Eagle Eye should fall short. But such is the breakneck pace of proceedings the holes in the story zoom by too fast for you to notice. And for all its flaws, it's an enjoyable slice of hokum. |
