Review of Eye in the Sky (2007) by Dave C — 05 Jul 2016

A fascinating and intense journey in to the world of war that uses drone warfare to bring insight in to the moral implications of a battle that plays out on the screen rather than on the field. It's a thrilling ride, but director Hood doesn't offer any easy answers.

There is a poignant moment where one of the players involved decries the notion of a Lt. General making decisions on the field from the comfort of his chair. This prompts a response that gets to the heart of the film's central question: Does the concept of drone warfare change our perception of moral responsibility when it comes to the causality of war, and if so, in what ways?

The film plays out of the point of view of those in their respective chairs, bringing us in and out of their unique vantage points and the more intimate shots that reveal their emotional responses in light of their individual responsibilities. In this sense we get a feel for the sort of distant relationship that exists between the players and the target, a fact that is intended to leave us uncomfortable not only as we are watching it all unfold in what feels like real time, but also as the film fades from view. This gives us a sense of how all of the different elements, political, personal and moral responsibility, intersect, and it keeps us from being able to come to any sort of clear, cut conclusions about what is right or wrong in the moment.

The whole thing is a breathless ride that explores the impact that such a scary, problematic form of technology brings to one of the most problematic elements of our world. For as much as it is about this technology, it is also incredibly human, something that all of performers embody, with Powell leading the way.