​FILMS

good kill

2015 review number 112:

Good Kill: (Drama): 69 out of 100: An interesting character piece more than anything else, Good Kill is written and directed by Andrew Niccol and features his second teaming with Ethan Hawke after their first effort together in 1997's Gattaca. Niccol usually has some absorbing ideas because his filmography also includes Lord of War from 2005 and the screenplay of The Truman Show from 1998. This film is no different.

 

Ethan Hawke stars as Major Thomas Egan, an air force fighter pilot who becomes an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) pilot when demand drops for manned aircraft. He performs his duties from the comfort of his operations trailer in Las Vegas under the command of Lt. Colonel Jack Johns (Bruce Greenwood). Working with them are other personnel including new recruit, Airman Vera Suarez (Zoë Kravitz). Egan begins to question the morality of his job as a drone pilot when he sees the innocent people who are targets in his strikes. His usual placid temperament with his family including his wife, Molly (January Jones), becomes affected when he wrestles with his inability to control the collateral damage of his airstrikes, along with his desire to return to the air as a fighter pilot. 

 

Hawke is a superb actor who embodies the characters he portrays. In this role he has pent up frustrations and the transformation he makes to explosive rage is brilliant. The scenes involving his wife demonstrate how he has lost control with the situation. Jones as the neglected wife brings sensitivity to her role. Greenwood also captures the emotions of his character where he must contend with the ethics of the job he must do. He must take orders from his superiors and although he might not agree with them, reasons with his charges as to why they must obey. Kravitz is also credible as the inexperienced officer who witnesses the ravages of war.  

 

Although there are several excellent, thought-provoking ideas presented, the film is a bit repetitious with the number of air strikes presented. It's hammering the idea into our minds that war is horrific. It's not your typical war film as the combatants are never in action in the air or on the ground. The views are from satellites but Niccol is still able to inject some tension into the proceedings.

 

Production values are first rate with the editing and cinematography bringing the acting and story to the fore. It was a great idea to film some scenes along the Las Vegas strip to highlight how a war on terror can be fought in such a fanciful, entertaining place, so far away from the actual battle zones. 

 

Those seeking action will be left disappointed but if you hang in there, you'll appreciate how a 'war' film doesn't need action scenes to propel the story. Although it's drummed into the viewer that war is despicable, which some viewers might propose as a heavy-handed approach, most of the movie is thoroughly engaging and one that is relevant to the times we live in.

 

Starring Ethan Hawke, Bruce Greenwood, Zoë Kravitz and January Jones

(103 minutes)

Parental advice: Adult themes, sexual violence, violence, sex scene and coarse language

Additional scene during or after credits: No

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcDB6OZgqzo (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Friday 7th August, 2015)

 

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