Eagle Eye

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, Ethan Embry, William Sadler
Directed by: D.J. Caruso
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Thriller
2008

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: A young man (Shia LaBeouf) reluctantly teams with a single mom (Michelle Monaghan) after they are both contacted by a mysterious voice, commanding them to follow orders or suffer the consequences. When they rebel, they see the power of the mystery woman, and realize they are powerless to fight back.

Review:

Tim: This movie might have been the surprise of 2008. It looked like an interesting film, but I was not prepared for the movie. It is a ridiculously intense, thrill-a-minute, suspenseful film. I don't like to say a movie "kept me on the edge of my seat" because that is such a cliche, but it is completely true here. D.J. Caruso directs one thrilling movie.

I love watching our two unlikely heroes thrown into a situation far beyond their capabilities, powerless but to follow the dangerous commands of a mystery woman. I was captivated, trying to figure out what was going on and how it would all end. The action sequences are nothing short of brilliant, as our protagonists run and hide, always a second or two from capture or death. I loved watching it.

The cast is surprisingly good. Shia LaBeouf has completely won me over in recent years. He is such a good actor and has a knack for picking cool movies. He is believable here as an everyman who finds himself in way over his head. He has such charisma on the big screen. Michelle Monaghan is likewise good as well. She and LaBeouf have more chemistry than I expected. I enjoyed both of them together. They both do such a wonderful job on screen. I completely believed them and the emotions they felt. I wouldn't have expected LaBeouf and Monaghan to so perfectly carry a movie together, but they do.

The supporting cast is impressive as well. Billy Bob Thornton is funny and intense in his role. I really enjoyed his performance. Rosario Dawson is good as well, although I wish she had more screen time. It would have been a better movie with more of her in it. I also liked seeing Michael Chiklis and especially Ethan Embry, but I wish both men had more time in front of the camera. Still, the supporting cast is quite strong.

I absolutely loved Eagle Eye, but I also recognize that with a few tweaks, this movie could have been one of the best. I loved trying to follow the plot, wondering what the mystery would turn out to be. I was a little disappointed when I finally learned the truth. I was hoping for something original and mind-blowing. Instead, it was interesting but has been done before. I was hoping for more originality. Also, I think the conclusion wraps the movie up a little too neatly. It ended a bit too conveniently. It might seem strange, but I wish it would have ended a bit more tragically (I don't want to ruin the movie by saying more). Still, this movie is terrific and I truly loved it.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Disturbia, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Mission: Impossible III, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang