We also have Billy Bob Thornton and Rosario Dawson as detectives investigating the case. After watching Michael Chiklis shine in the final episodes of The Shield, it’s disheartening to see him playing the bland role of Defense Secretary George Callister.
The cast includes a surprising amount of talented actors slumming in supporting roles. The more common result is a loud, messy scene with little to offer but frustration and nausea. While Paul Greengrass utilized this technique wonderfully in the Bourne pictures, here it can lead to head-scratching sequences in most cases. The other trap is the constant use of quick-cutting during each chase. Caruso again stresses his use of practical effects whenever possible, but that approach only works if matched with a good story. Badham gives some interesting details about his work, but their discussion is detached from this film’s poor execution. They appear to be kindred spirits and try to make the connection between the two films, but the bond is tenuous. When our apparently helpless leads overtake an armored car by deftly handling shotguns, we’ve moved well beyond the real world.įor Shall We Play a Game?, Caruso sits down for 10-minutes with his mentor John Badham, who directed War Games. A better example is the video-game idea, where actions occur at a breakneck pace without depth. Caruso stressed the need for character moments to balance the action, but forgot to actually develop any personal connections. The stories existed in a possible reality, not the ridiculous fantasy portrayed here. But those films were never structured around bombastic explosions and unending car chases. In the Asymmetrical Warfare: The Making of Eagle Eye documentary, Caruso and Director of Photography Dariusz Wolski compare this picture to classic ‘70s thrillers like The French Connection and The Parallax View. If Shaw and Holloman are such pivotal characters, why throw them from buildings and send them into massive car pileups? Isn’t there an easier way to reach their final destination than via a highly secured airport? I can accept a stretch here and there, but enough occurs here to make your head spin. When we finally discover the voice’s goal, it reveals far too many plot holes to even discuss in one sitting. The ultimate revelation is hardly a shock and shows the four screenwriters’ unwillingness to say anything relevant. A mysterious woman’s GPS-like voice calls with instructions that should be followed, or else. Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) and Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) are the innocents thrust into the unrelenting action.
Caruso’s Eagle Eye might pretend to criticize our increasing reliance on technology, but it’s really just the setting for a big dumb movie. When the real government struggles to do even the basic things correctly, it’s hard to believe it could ever build a powerful, all-seeing device.ĭ.J. It’s difficult to create tension if an omnipotent force can drop power lines on unsuspecting enemies whenever it wants. However, lazy filmmakers who choose a simpler path could risk delivering a dull, mind-numbing experience. It could even be the model for an old-school Hitchcock film, updated with modern touches. This material is perfect for a suspense thriller, with the big bad government chasing down the idealistic, possibly clueless everyman. In fact, a little film called Enemy of the State covered this territory 10 years ago. With news stories on unlawful surveillance becoming commonplace, it’s hardly a stretch to think the worst is happening.
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