The Show
Eagle Eye is a fast-paced thriller that takes ‘suspension of disbelief’ to new heights. As a matter of fact it takes it to a whole new realm of comprehension. The movie is so unbelievable, so preposterous, that at some moments it’s fun and at others tiring.
Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf, Holes) is the epitome of a “nobody.” He works in a nondescript copy store and lives in a dilapidated apartment building where he can’t even pay his rent. He’s estranged from his parents, and has a hard time dealing with the sudden loss of his twin brother.
Suddenly, one dreary day, Jerry Shaw finds that his bank account is flush with over seven hundred thousand dollars and his apartment is full of high-tech bomb-making material. His phone rings and a creepy, but stoic female voice (an uncredited Julianne Moore) relays specific instructions on how to evade the FBI who are on their way.
Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan, Gone Baby Gone) has just been informed, by the same voice, that her son will be killed if she doesn’t also follow exact instructions. Rachel and Jerry soon meet up and are bouncing around the country with the FBI hot on their tail all the while taking instructions from the voice.
It seems that whoever is on the other end is an all-knowing, all-seeing presence that can use any electronics for its own purposes — something that can see and track every move of seemingly everyone wherever they go. Don’t worry, there is an explanation for how this is happening, but it is a crummy one. It’s also where the movie falls apart.
The secret of who is behind the voice is so unimaginative and unoriginal that it’s not interesting at all. The secret is also revealed far too early on. To say it’s anti-climatic is an understatement.
Eagle Eye features some fun action, and a fairly reserved Shia LaBeouf, but nothing more than that. It’s one of those action movies that averages about three seconds before it switches to another shot. At times this is nauseating — but not as nauseating as the end game, the secret that the movie has been building toward. It’s all smoke and mirrors, an excuse to wreck cars, and fly an unmanned Predator plane into a crowded traffic tunnel.
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