Reel Life

This has been a pretty interesting week. I have been so flat-out crazy with work that for the most part I have been in meetings or in the office or on the road. Not to mention the weather has been crazy, too — completely hot one moment and then pouring down the next. It adds a special irritation to preparing for the day because though it’s hot outside you still have to dress as if you are preparing for a flood.

In either case, despite the harrowing schedules and the crazy weather, I managed to find time to take in a few movies this week — three, to be exact, that made me think, had me on the edge of my seat, and made me roll on the floor with laughter. Warning: if you haven’t seen any of these movies stop reading now as spoilers abound.

Eye in the Sky

The first movie I’ve seen in some time was the hit Eagle Eye. Featuring Indiana Jones and Transformers star Shia LaBeouf, the story revolves around a society that is completely dependent on technology and computers for its survival. Not unlike our society today, actually. In any case, taking advantage of this technologically crippled society, an unknown power mobilizes ordinary people against their will to do its bidding. The plot was strange at first because it seemed as if this “mysterious woman” on the phone was always one step ahead of everyone. She knew everything, had contacts everywhere, had eyes in every corner. She seemed like she could do anything.

And it turns out she could. She was no mere human but a super computer built by the government to spy on its own people in the name of anti-terrorism. In essence, we built a machine to protect us only to realize it was destroying us in the name of our own protection. It’s actually very 1984 meets Terminator with the whole creepy thought of someone watching your every move and computers thinking for themselves. I really liked this film and it had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen in the end. Plus, LaBeouf was excellent as always.

Thunder Down Under

The second film I watched also had to do with the military but it was far from serious. Ben Stiller’s latest offering, Tropic Thunder, is probably one of the funniest movies I’ve seen this year. It’s a “movie” within a movie about a couple of washed-up actors trying to revive their career by starring in a riveting Saving Private Ryan-type film based on a Vietnam War veteran’s book. It’s a hilarious romp from the irreverent to the cheeky as these actors find themselves in a real war-like situation and find that they have to work together to survive.

The director and star was Ben Stiller — still a comedic gem alongside one of my favorite funny men Jack Black and surprise stunner Robert Downey Jr. It was actually a star-studded ensemble including Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey among many others. Downey Jr. was actually my favorite member of the crazy group as he played a multi-awarded Australian actor who portrays a black man in the “movie.” He is so Method that he even gets skin pigmentation to alter his looks allowing him to fully become his character. It was quite hilarious. Their dim-witted antics had the audience laughing from start to finish. As a matter of fact, it was so enjoyable I definitely want to see it again.

Bodies and Lies

The last movie I saw this week was the blockbuster Body of Lies starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe about undercover operations and anti-terrorism groups operating in Middle Eastern countries. The group headed by Crowe is a black ops division looking for known terror cells in the Middle East. Leo is a tough, street-savvy agent who knows a ton of languages and all about local customs and is intent on bringing down a terror leader who has been blowing up bombs all over Europe with the United States next on his list.

Actually the movie troubled me since I can easily believe the plot is not too far from real life. Obviously, we can’t say with perfect accuracy what is really going on in the Middle East but I’m sure torture and bombs and fighting and killing and lying is all part of it. Leo essayed his role perfectly. He was the kind of agent all secret agents should strive to be — obedient to the mission and yet respectful and mindful of the people and culture around him. He gets the job done yet he still maintains a conscience about the people who get hurt along the way. The entire movie hits at the heart of sensitive war issues and is a great eye-opener about what could be happening in many parts of the world today.

So, indeed, despite a busy and hectic week and an impending cold, at least I had awesome movies on the silver screen to keep me entertained.