Eye in the Sky

Following any major awards scene there are usually people reporting on the snubs of each year and what they hoped to have seen being recognised for its achievements. And while some dismiss these awards etc as pointless with your stereotypical Oscar bait films that seem as if they were green-lit under an agreement to receive nominations, it can mean that other films worth checking out but are not nominated can fall between the cracks and disappear from the public eye. A good example is Eye in the Sky that came out in 2015 starring Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul and Alan Rickman's last live-action performance.

The story resolves around Mirren organising an operation to unleash airstrike from her British military base, which is being piloted by Paul in the US while overseen by Rickman in London. However, things do not go smoothly as moral questions are raised about how the strike should be conducted forcing the characters into deciding what they can do versus if they should. It's a neat idea and director Gavin Hood ties together the three main stars who never share a scene together, and create a thrilling experience.

Ten years ago military dramas were falling over themselves to reach an audience and this resulted in many financially unsuccessful films with some asking if it was too soon. However, something started to change as The Hurt Locker made a splash and then there was Clint Eastwood's surprise success in the shape of American Sniper. Eye in the Sky succeeds on a character level as Hood allows for us to connect with the ongoing events and even asks the audience questions on what they would do, boosting that level of engagement that could have so easily gone missing.

Without spoilers, Eye in the Sky could have been directed by Paul Greengrass and we would have the same film. It's tense, exciting and thought provoking while packing very fine performances from everyone involved, including the great Alan Rickman.