Review of Good Kill (2015) by Charles S — 07 May 2016

"Good Kill is a timely drama about the use of combat drones".

DVD Movie Review: Good Kill.

Date Viewed: August 28 2015.

Written and Directed By Andrew Niccol (Gattaca, Lord of War and In Time).

Starring: Ethan Hawke, January Jones, Zoe Kravitz, Jake Abel and Bruce Greenwood.

Drones have been an effective tool in the war on terror, they are so popular, tech companies in the United States have decided to build mini-drones of their own and sell them to ordinary citizens. A drone is a good toy for an adult to have but they have caused disruptions at airports, invaded the privacy of people who live in apartments with big windows and there were a few instances of drones getting through the White House fence. Sure, drones are a pain in the neck to some people (Sen. Rand Paul) but Andrew Niccol's new movie "Good Kill" explores the reality of drone warfare very well. It does hit a few sour notes at the end but this movie has another great performance from one of our most hard-working actors today, Ethan Hawke.

Working with Andrew Niccol for the third time, Hawke plays Major Thomas Egan, a fighter pilot who gets transmitted to the UCAV, the station that controls all drone operations for U.S. forces in the Middle East and North Africa. Commanding a combat drone is like playing a video game but with real lives at stake. Egan lives in a suburban neighborhood with his wife, Molly (January Jones) and two children and everyday, he puts on a green jumpsuit and drives to the UCAV base in Nevada. So all day he sits down in a chair and watching.

Egan's boss, Lt. Jack Johns (Bruce Greenwood) receives orders from the CIA to target insurgent hideouts even if there are innocent civilians inside. This is a job that Egan is unfit for and he questions the authority to strike at terrorist targets with killing innocent civilians in the process. Egan may be dedicated to his duties but his job and his drinking problems are having an impact on his marriage. We may get the usual wife-being-unfaithful cliche but January Jones is confident and strong in her role as Molly Egan.

Zoe Kravitz is also really good as Egan's new partner and Ethan Hawke has never been better. It may have a few flaws but writer and director Andrew Niccol (Gattaca, Lord of War and In Time) explores the issue of drone warfare very thoughtfully. He has made a really intense movie about the use of remote-controlled drones.