Eye in the Sky

Eye in the Sky refers to the drones, used by the US military and others, that watch but also kill terrorists. The story of this film seems to be loosely based on a real terrorist, the so-called White Widow, a British woman who joined Al Shabaab in Somalia. In Eye in the Sky, a mission to capture her has been arranged, led by the British with support from the Americans and the Kenyans. A drone is being flown from a US Airforce base by two soldiers (Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) and Phoebe Fox). The mission is run by a British Colonel (Helen Mirren) and her superior officer (Alan Rickman). Things go wrong from the start and the mission quickly changes from capture to kill. The terrorists are planning an imminent suicide attack, and so they must be killed by a missile from the drone. Even though there are some qualms, permission is quickly given for the strike until the drone operators notice that a young Kenyan girl is selling bread right next to the target house and will be killed if the missile is launched. What follows is a nice study in military vs political needs and agendas. The British colonel, played by Mirren with a very competent iciness, wants to proceed. She is supported by her General (Rickman) but the politicians are not so sure. As we watch the terrorists prepare their suicide vests through a tiny drone disguised as a large fly (I don't make this stuff up) and operated by a local officer (Barkhad Abdi), the politicians dither, and the drone operators come close to mutiny. It is quite entertaining to watch the British ministers, played by Jeremy Northam and various nice British character actors,  as they keep "referring up." Eventually, the British Foreign Secretary (Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont in Game of Thrones)) and the American Secretary of State get involved. Meanwhile, all involved watch the little girl as if she is in a reality show, hoping she will sell all her bread and go home. Eye in the Sky features some very good performances including the always reliable Helen Mirren (I do love her), and very sadly, the last performance of the incomparable Alan Rickman who died in January. Barkhad Abdi, who was the terrorist in Captain Phillips, gets to play a good guy this time. Eye in the Sky is a nicely put-together film directed by the South African, Gavin Hood, who first hit the big time with Tsotsi a very good film that won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 2005. This one is worth seeing.