Date:15/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/15/stories/2008111551220200.htm

Karnataka

A dreary flight

A still from ‘Eagle Eye’

Eagle Eye (English)

Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton

Director: D. J. Caruso

Wish this film was at least silly enough to be fun. Alas that is not to be. The fast cuts and jerky camera work hope to distract you from the ludicrous plot and fail spectacularly.

The movie opens in a deserted village in whatever the American administration chooses to call the axis of evil. While no place is mentioned, there are visual clues like a stark landscape, young boys in kurta pajamas, a patient donkey and sinister-looking bearded men. Then we move to some secret American base where deep, deadly decisions are being taken to eliminate said sinister men.

Cut to the United States and Jerry Shaw ripping his friends off at cards. Cut to single mom Rachel Holloman seeing off son Sam for a concert in Washington.

Jerry learns his twin brother, Ethan, has died, goes for the funeral and gets that fateful phone call that turns his life upside down.

All of a sudden he is on the run with the FBI after him. Rachel too gets a mysterious phone call and before you can say “preposterous”, she is haring around the countryside with Jerry, escaping trains and vicious remote-controlled cranes.

There is a bizarre explanation by the end of it about machines turning rogue and stuff, but you are so fed up that you sympathise with the machine. Anyone who has to deal with such monumentally idiotic people would turn into a Frankenstein.

There is not much star power. Shia LaBeouf as Jerry continues to be sulky (the shock of being Indy’s son has not worn off presumably) while Michelle Monaghan has to look softly pretty or scream hysterically as Rachel. Billy Bob Thornton as the FBI agent has some fun and the best line in the film, which is unfortunately unprintable. The action is competent but nothing mind-blowing.

The film has nothing going for it and can easily be given the miss. Watch “2001 Space Odyssey” or “Enemy of the State” instead for your daily dose of technophobia.

MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER