Review of The East (2013) by Greatmartin — 20 Jun 2013

“The East” among other things, asks if two wrongs make a right? Are you justified in filling a CEO’s house of an oil company, that was responsible for a massive oil spill, with crude oil? Is there anything ‘wrong’ with giving the owners of a pharmaceutica, a dose of their own medicine, in champagne, which has caused illness and death in patients? When does an ‘eye for an eye’ become immoral, unethical? Will you ever look at Alexander Skarsgard, if you are familiar with “True Blood”, as anyone but Eric the vampire?

Brit Marling, who co-wrote the screenplay with the director, Zal Batmanglij, stars as Jane, an ex-FBI agent, who goes to work for Sharon, (Patricia Clarkson) owner of a security firm who goes after environmental protesters who do what the group who calls themselves “The East” does. She goes undercover as Sarah and infiltrates the group and, disregarding Sharon’s warning about ‘going soft’ finds herself agreeing with the protesters but not their methods. There is no doubt that corporations are the villains of the movie but what about those protesters and what they bring?

The movie follows Sarah, who because of her job, is leading a double life and also, to a certain degree, what motivates Skarsgard (Benji), Toby Kebbell (Doc), Ellen Page (Izzy) and Shiloh Fernandez (Luca) to commit what they refer to as ‘jams’. There is a love story and a few missteps regarding motivations but “The East” definitely will hold your interest.

The acting by all the cast is first rate, as are most of the production values, and the film will hold your interest with the questions it is asking though the script goes a little too ‘Hollywood’ now and then. It is certainly a relief from all the pre-summer loud, action films that have been released and will have you talking about it, and the premise, after it is over.

It is rated PG-13 for violence, some close your eyes images, sexual content and nudity. Running time is 1 hour and 56 minutes.