Just when I thought I would snap from the pressure of studies, my course mates and I were presented with a group assignment. The task? present a group review of the movie ‘Eye in the Sky’. What a pleasant surprise! While I had seen the movie previously, I didn’t mind a rewatch. Eye in the sky is a thought-provoking and intense thriller that explores the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by military and political officials during drone warfare. Directed by Gavin Hood, the movie features a brilliant cast, including Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, and Alan Rickman (who played the role of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies) in one of his final performances.
The movie is set in modern-day London and follows Colonel Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren), a military intelligence officer who is leading a mission to capture a group of terrorists in Nairobi, Kenya. The operation involves using a drone to monitor the group’s activities and coordinate with local forces on the ground.
As the mission progresses, the situation becomes increasingly complex. The targets increase in number and the team has to grapple with the introduction of an innocent bystander. Colonel Powell must make difficult decisions that have potentially lethal consequences. The movie explores the ethical implications of drone warfare, including the concept of collateral damage, the role of civilian casualties, and the impact of these decisions on military personnel.
An important aspect of the story was the composition of the team. The COBRA situation room consisted of an army general, a minister, member of parliament, the attorney general of the UK. The audience is constantly on edge as they witness the tense conversations between military officials, politicians, and lawyers as they debate the morality and legality of the operation. The opinions shared showed that human decisions are always to some extent, emotional in nature. While each member of the team tried to be objective, their opinions carried with them different biases.
The performances in the movie are exceptional, with Helen Mirren delivering a standout performance as the determined and resolute Colonel Powell. She was result oriented throughout the situational changes that occurred during the movie. Aaron Paul also shines as the drone pilot, providing a powerful portrayal of a man grappling with the moral implications of his actions. Alan Rickman’s performance as Lieutenant General Frank Benson is a poignant reminder of the actor’s immense talent and presence on screen. Like Colonel Powell, he was resolute and goal oriented.
Another strength of the movie is its ability to provide a balanced and nuanced portrayal of the issues surrounding the decision making process. The movie avoids simplifying the debate into an argument of right vs. wrong, instead presenting a complex and nuanced examination of the issue. It is clear that the filmmakers have done their research, and the movie offers a realistic portrayal of the complexities and challenges of modern warfare.
While on the surface, it seems as though the right decision was made, I am not convinced that I would have authorized the drone strike with the high possibility of collateral damage, in this case, a young girl. Overall, ‘Eye in the Sky’ is an engaging and thought-provoking movie that is a must-see for anyone interested in modern warfare, political ethics, the role of technology in modern society and the complexities of decision making.
Data visualization and sharing