Movie Review: Traitor, Eagle Eye, Lakeview Terrace

Eagle Eye (2008), directed by DJ Caruso and starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan, is a somewhat entertaining movie despite a quite implausible plot. A prototypical artificial intelligence-controlled computer system designed to detect threat to national security goes rogue without anyone’s knowledge and activates numerous citizens across the nation to accomplish the dirty work a computer can’t do. A classic summer movie, with plenty of action and little brain.

Well acted movie albeit a bit slow moving because of the lack of action until the last fourth of the movie. The movie basically is about the rising tension between two neighbors. The great thing is that the movie starts as if everything could be all right: Abel Turner, the antagonist played by Samuel Jackson seems like a decent guy although a bit rough on the edge. The new neighbors are definitely trying their best to fit in and please the weird creepy cop next door. Unfortunately, what seemed to be a “getting up on the wrong foot” case slowly turns into hatred and violence. Ending was a bit disappointing but what’s new… Anyways, worth watching if only for the great performance from Samuel Jackson.

Traitor (2008)

Starring Don Cheadle, Traitor is an interesting and entertaining movie. Cheadle plays Samir Horn, a former US Special Force soldier who seemingly has turned into a terrorist and is blowing American shit up. Very good character development of the Samir character as we see him being emotionally torn apart by his undercover work. Another great performance by Don Cheadle and a movie that will make you ponder the potential cost of the war on terrorism.

B