Just a quick warning to anyone who might read this review. Before moving forward, please note that this review will contain some spoilers. So you’ve been warned.
Upon first view of the trailer for EAGLE EYE I thought it was going to be a film that had a similar plotline to the likes of the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE & JASON BOURNE movies. It does come off as a wrongfully accused thriller involving a bunch of government agencies tracking down a guy who is suspected of doing something wrong. But, in the case of EAGLE EYE it does involve all of the above, but it has a 2001 SPACE ODYSSEY, sci-fi twist to it.
EAGLE EYE stars Shia LaBeouf (Transformers) as Jerry; a copy store clerk just barley making enough money to pay his rent and put food in his mouth. One day he gets a phone call from his mother, letting him know his twin brother has died. He goes home and goes though the grieving process, where we soon learn his brother worked for the armed forces. Jerry goes back to his apartment only to find it full of explosive materials and weapons. He gets a phone call from a women who tells him that the FBI will be there in thirty seconds. They come and take him in under suspicion of terrorism. But he escapes with the help of the mystery women on the phone. He is then teamed up with a women named Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) whom is also getting the phone calls. Both of them are teamed up, and must do whatever they are told or be killed. They soon go on a wild ride across half the country while being chased by a whole gang of government agent from different agencies, while committing crimes that they are being forced to commit or suffer the consequences. They will soon learn the truth as to who is behind the calls, and what they must do to stop them from killing the president and other public officials.
The script for EAGLE EYE does play off as your typical action film. It is very action packed with plenty of suspenseful chase scenes and over the top explosions. The character development is pretty decent with the lead characters, but does slack a bit with the supporting cast. The script is still decent however and does hold it’s own for an action, sci-fi film.
The acting is the films obvious strong point. With a cast that involves Shia LaBeouf , Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton, Michael Chiklis, Rosario Dawson and Ethan Embry. The performances are good in this movie, and the actors really make the characters come to life with their believable performances.
The production value is decent, the set designs are pretty well dressed and the cityscape of Chicago and Washington D.C. are very much expressed with some great shots of the cities landmarks and the lifestyle of each city is displayed well in the film so that the characters look and feel like they live in the cities there from. The special effects in the film do look pretty good. there is a lot of CGI and stunt effects going on in this film, everything from missile attacks in a tunnel to a crane crashing though as building. It a very well produced movie, and put together film.
EAGLE EYE is a very suspenseful and action packed film that was a lot of fun to watch. I did enjoy the film a lot, but did notice that it had a few flaws here and there with it’s script. It was a bit long for my liking, and the story at times did seem to drag on, which explains the movie having a running time of one hundred and seventeen minutes. It’s a very action packed film, so it does hold it’s own and does hide it’s long running time by keeping the film action packed , but I did find myself wondering when the film would be over.
The Two Disc Special Edition DVD does have a lot of features. The first disc has the film in widescreen format, as well as Deleted Scenes and a featurette called “Road Trip” On location with the cast and crew. Disc two has an Alternate Ending, Gag Rell, Photo Gallery, & Trealers as well as a few featurettes such as “Asymmetrical Warfare: The Making of EAGLE EYE, EAGLE EYE on location: Washington D.C., Is My Cell Phone Spying on Me? As well as “Shall We Play A Game; A piece that involves EAGLE EYE director D.J. Caruso talking with WAR GAMES director John Badham.
Overall, EAGLE EYE as a movie, while long is a very well balanced action, sci-fi thriller. The DVD is well worth the buy not just for the film but all the great features it comes with. I say a least give the movie a rent and check it out. It’s a decent filck that I’m sure will entertain just about anyone who has a flair for action and sci-fi films.
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
