Eagle Eye
2-Disc Special Edition
Directed by D.J. Caruso
Starring Shia Labeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, Billy Bob Thornton
Paramount Home Entertainment
Released Date: December 27, 2008

Eagle Eye is the next adventure in technological thriller genre, following Jerry Shaw (Shia Labeouf) who after the death of his twin brother Ethan finds a bunch of money in his bank account and an apartment full of military gear and weaponry. Almost immediately, he’s contacted by a mysterious woman’s voice who tells him to leave immediately, the FBI is coming to arrest him. He, of course, think she’s insane and ignores the warning, only to be quickly arrested and interrogated thoroughly by Agent Tom Morgan (Billy Bob Thornton). After this, he’s contacted again by the mysterious voice and this time, not surprisingly, he’s a little more believing, although still very skeptical. She leads him on a daring and dangerous escape where he ultimately meets up with Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan), who is also being directed by the voice, who is threatening that if Rachel doesn’t do what she’s told, her son will be murdered. From then on out, the two follow the voice’s instructions, while trying to figure out what it wants and what’s going on, as well as how it ties to Jerry’s deceased twin brother.

Eagle Eye is the embodiment of what a modern day action movie is. The incredible amount of technology used as the framing for the story sets the table perfectly for that sort of sub-genre.

Eagle Eye
Directed by D.J. Caruso
Starring Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thorton, Rosario Dawson
Rated PG-13
Release date: September 26, 2008

Boom, Bang, Vroom, Huh?, Crash, Kablam = Eagle Eye. A true escapist movie, Eagle Eye is explosive fun, as long as you don’t think too much and you don’t mind commercials.

Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf), an underachieving slacker, is blackmailed into a criminal situation, directed only by a woman over the phone that seems able to access all the electronics connected by some kind of network. Rachel Hollowman (Michelle Monaghan) is driven into the same situation with Jerry when her son is threatened. FBI Agent Thomas Morgan (Billy Bob Thorton) and Air Force Investigator Zoe Perez (Rosario Dawson) are assigned to investigate Shaw, and, as a consequence, Rachael. They all are led by the seat of their pants on the path the woman on the phone decides.

Eagle Eye is a two-hour chase scene. Jerry and Rachael are chased by the FBI, the Air Force, and the woman over the phone. The FBI and Air Force are hampered by the outstanding power of the woman on the phone. The cat and mouse game often drew me to the edge of my seat. There is a particular scene involving luggage that made me laugh and dodge in my seat.

It is one of those things in my life, like Star Trek: Deep Space 9, that I just missed out on. It wouldn’t have been for lack of trying or interest, it’s just I never knew about Y The Last Man, just as I didn’t know how great DS9 was until after it had finished. It’s definitely on my “to-buy” pile, and though I know the ending, I’m still really looking forward to reading it.

But it looks as if I’d better get my act together, because director D.J. Caruso said that he has just turned in a script to Warner Bros. for the film adaptation of the Brian K. Vaughan comic book series, and that he hopes it will be the next film he and WB/New Line does.

When Marvel announced its plans for future movies, it wasn’t a big surprise to see Thor on the list. One of the original Avengers obviously made Thor a ripe choice for cinematic adaptation, so with writers and producers on board, all the movie needs now is a director.

Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust) had previously been attached to direct the flick, but was off the project after his holding deal expired this past December. But news out of IESB is suggesting that Eagle Eye helmer DJ Caruso might be up for the directorship.

IESB brought up the now-stereotypical question posed to directors these days, as to whether they would like to direct a superhero movie. Apparently Caruso was a fan of Thor when he was younger, and despite fears about which Thor story to tell, Caruso said he could see himself getting into directing the movie.