National security is a hot-button issue these days. Terrorism remains an ever-present threat for some, and an issue that has lost relevance for others. With a presidential election on the horizon, national security enforcement procedures have become particularly contentious, and it’s this contention that the new conspiracy thriller “Eagle Eye” attempts to cash in on.
The story follows Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf), a copy center employee and generally disagreeable young man lacking in ambition. His lonely, impoverished life gets thrown pretty far off kilter when he receives a phone call from a mysterious woman who demands that he flee from the FBI. Given that Jerry’s apartment has been filled to the brim with terrorist paraphernalia, he finds himself lacking choices.
Also central to the storyline is Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan), a single mother with a musically talented son and a deadbeat ex-husband. She also receives a call from the mysterious woman who threatens to derail her kid’s train if she doesn’t assist Shaw’s escape from authorities.
Having considerable affection for her son, Rachel complies hastily and, like Jerry, becomes complicit in a vast conspiracy.
What follows is an elaborate and somewhat convoluted story involving national security, experimental explosives and artificial intelligence gone haywire. In other words, it’s nothing we haven’t seen at least a hundred times before.
That said, the execution of the storytelling is actually quite competent. Director DJ Caruso, fresh off his mild success from 2007’s “Disturbia,” weaves together a coherent, if unimpressive, story. The action sequences are impressive, with some truly thrilling chase scenes and excellent pacing of suspense.
The performances by lead actors LaBeouf and Monaghan were similarly competent, but certainly nothing special.
The film also raises questions about the morality of surveillance, but doesn’t present a particular opinion one way or the other.
It’s hard to criticize “Eagle Eye” because as a whole it’s a solid film. However, from the beginning right up to the predictable Hollywood ending, “Eagle Eye” is very much a safe bet on the part of the filmmakers and the movie studio. If you’re looking for a good popcorn or date movie, you could do worse.
