EAGLE EYE: 'Run, Shia, Run!'

EAGLE EYE (thriller)
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Billy Bob Thornton and Michael Chiklis
Director: D.J. Caruso
Time: 118 mins
Rating: * * (out of 4)

RUNNING SCARED: Labeouf and Monaghan

PREAMBLE: Here's another movie to pander to the paranoia over terrorist threats and the possibility of our lives being scrutinised by an all-seeing agency. And indeed, 'Eagle Eye' might have worked its magic and grabbed our interest if its 'high-conceit' plot were at least plausible instead of being so preposterous.

And after suspending disbelief for so long, we should just take 'Eagle Eye' for what it really is: just another actioner featuring some cool car chases and crashes and other spectacular vehicular destruction.

THE SKINNY: Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) is an underachiever mourning the death of his twin brother, Ethan. Somewhere in the same city, Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) is sending her son Sam (Cameron Boyce) on a trip to the White House with his school band. Jerry arrives home to find his apartment filled with terrorist stuff like guns and bomb-making devices, while a voice on his cell phone tells him to run. He disobeys and finds himself caught by the FBI, led by agent Thomas Morgan (Billy Bob Thornton).

Rachel, however, receives a similar call telling her to follow instructions or her son's train will be derailed. She does as she's told and finds herself face-to-face with Jerry. Together, they go around the town and countryside doing the bidding of the voice, which has the power to control electronic devices all around the world to get them where they're supposed to go. And besides the FBI, they are also pursued by Air Force intelligence agent Zoe Perez (Rosario Dawson) who is also interested to find out what's going on.

THE CRITIQUE: The concept of Big Brother watching over its citizens (a'la George Orwell) is old hat. This movie ups the ante in terms of plot style without firming up on the logic (or substance). So by the time we get to its ending, we would have figured out most of its 'twists' and feel disappointed by the plot.

Still LaBeouf may be happy to see him doing some real acting even though it is similar to his roles in 'Transformers' and 'Indiana Jones And The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'. And those who love smashes and mayhem will find enough of them here. Those looking for a decent script should look elsewhere.

THE VERDICT: This is not what we would call a mindless fun ride. You feel cheated because it is so mindless and funless.