I loved the escalating chase and the unknowable stakes involved. Billy Bob Thornton plays Special Agent Tom Morgan and provides a lot of tough guy lines perfectly. He won me over immediately and ratchets up the suspense by being so good and so dogged at his pursuit. Rosario Dawson portrays Air Force Office of Special Operations Special Agent Zoe Perez as his counterpart in the USAF. Both of them have limited time on screen, but they deliver solid performances that keep the movie spinning like a top.
I had a blast during the movie, but a lot of it goes through very familiar moves. There’s nothing in Eagle Eye that hasn’t been seen before, but it’s solid entertainment and the kind of story that I love watching. The special effects and stunt crews obviously had a great time putting this movie together, because there didn’t seem to be anything that didn’t get wrecked, shot, or “blowed up real good.”
One stumbling block, for me, is the final scene of the movie. It just feels like a Band-Aid, something that Hollywood insisted on sticking in to hint at a romance. The story was tight enough that it didn't need the romance. The final scene in North by Northwest works because the story lends itself to that subplot. This one just doesn't work and feels false.
I forgive the movie its political overtones and undisguised President-bashing because it was fun. If you’re going to get irritated over either of those issues, I’d suggest passing this one up. But if you want an actioner with heart, plenty of tech-paranoia, and solid characters doing what they’re supposed to do, Eagle Eye is fun, fast-paced, and entertaining.
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