By Ben McEachenMonday 4 Apr 2016The Big PictureMoviesReading Time: 2 minutes
Using 2013 terrorist attacks in Kenya as its backdrop, Eye in the Sky is a fictional account of an international mission to destroy a group of suicide bombers.
A British army colonel (Helen Mirren) heads the operation to launch a drone strike against them. But it is threatened by “collateral damage”, because a girl is selling bread next door to where the suicide bombers are hiding. A minefield of morality opens up as government and military leaders must decide whether it is worth sacrificing the life of the little girl – to potentially save the lives of other people.
RATED: M for mature themes, violence and coarse language.
AUDIENCE: This is a war movie for those who don’t like war movies. Suitable for anyone in their late teens and upwards, who want to see a thoughtful presentation of the ethics of warfare.
WHAT’S GOOD: The cast is terrific and believable (including Alan Rickman, in his final screen performance) but highest praise goes to director Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and screenwriter Guy Hibbert. They have used a new form of warfare (drone strikes) as the powerful catalyst for an investigation into enormous ethical issues. The variety of opinions, arguments and reasons presented are impressive, considering how simple AND complex the central situation appears to be.
WHAT’S NOT: Most of Eye in the Sky is dedicated to rooms full of powerful people, debating and glaring and waiting for new information to arrive. As a result, the “action” on-screen can become repetitive or bogged down in certain points.
SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING: The terrible situation at the heart of Eye in the Sky might appear to have a simple solution. But like so many things about life, it’s not always as easy as we first think. Even when applying the teachings and commands of Jesus to what’s happening on-screen, we can struggle to reach a clear answer. Jesus calls people to love their neighbours AND their enemies. He wants mercy to be showed, but justice to be done. Eye in the Sky is an extreme but provocative reminder of how important it is to have a deep, rich understanding of how our ethical framework applies – in any and all situations.
RELEASE DATE: Now Showing