Pace Press

Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Technology, terrorists, the government and Shia LaBeouf make up the race-against-time thriller Eagle Eye. Directed by D.J. Caruso (Disturbia), the film spins a cautionary tale about the consequences of abusing technology. With a political message underlying the film, Eagle Eye manages to be entertaining even though certain parts of the film tend to become a little unpredictable.

Overall the story does pretty well for itself, even though it's slightly reminiscent of Enemy of the State. Jerry Shaw (LaBeouf) is an under-achiever who recently discovers that his twin brother has been killed in a car crash. He returns to his run-down apartment to find boxes of assorted weapons and a mysterious phone call from a woman informs Shaw that the F.B.I. will be arriving to arrest him unless he escapes.
The antiseptic female telephone voice is an all-powerful force who can see Shaw wherever he is. Also along for the ride is Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) a mother whom the voice forces to help Shaw in exchange for her son's safety. After the two characters meet, they unwillingly travel from one location to the next while narrowly escaping horrible deaths and receiving great cell phone reception wherever they go.

Other characters in the film include Air Force officer Zoe Perez (Rosario Dawson), Defense Secretary Callister (Michael Chiklis), and Agent Thomas Morgan (Billy Bob Thornton). While they don't play huge roles in the film, they help to move the story along. Perez is charged with investigating Shaw's brother's death, Morgan thinks Shaw is a terrorist on the run so he spends most of the film chasing after him and Callister is simply a Defense Secretary with a few plot twists up his sleeve.
The acting in the film isn't fantastic but the destruction and mayhem is entertaining. Despite some shaky dialogue it has all of the subtle Shia LaBeouf comedic moments we've all come to know and love. Dawson and Chiklis play their roles well and it's unfortunate that they don't get more screen time. Thornton justifies his F.B.I. Agent role even though he tends to seem uninterested throughout the film.

Caruso does a fine directing job.
You'll find yourself amazed at the variious ways the voice contacts Shaw and Holloman. The dangerous situations these two get into look great on screen- you'll constantly be wondering how they're going to survive their next close encounter with a painful death.

What drags the film down is its subtle political messages. The movie tiptoes around the idea that the government is watching us and listening in on our conversations wherever we are. It also touches on the current search for Al Qaida (the film opens with the military discovering the possible leader) and our fears of terrorists. Despite these references the movie entertains, although you may find yourself looking over your shoulder on the way back from the theatre.

Overall, Eagle Eye is an entertaining film. Freshly grown facial hair and all, LaBeouf stands perfectly cast next to Monaghan. If you can forgive the political messages that seem to be hurled at you for no apparent reason, you'll likely enjoy this film. A ton of near death experiences, traffic accidents and cranes smashing into buildings make for a worthwhile experience. With five being the highest, Eagle Eye gets three "Eyes" out of five.

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