Remember that scene in The Matrix when Neo uses a mobile phone to receive elaborate instructions from a stranger in order to escape the agents? 

Director D.J. Caruso certainly does – he’s taken the concept and turned it into a full length feature.  Eagle Eye is a technological action thriller that deals with conspiracy theories of invasive technology and ‘Big Brother’s watching you’ paranoia, throwing Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan and anybody watching onto a relentless rollercoaster ride of destruction.

The plot centres round Jerry Shaw (LaBeouf), a charming underachiever living in the shadow of his highflying twin brother.  Following his brother’s death, he’s framed as a terrorist, arrested by the FBI, and interrogated by the unsympathetic Agent Thomas Morgan (Billy Bob Thornton).  Jerry’s only means of escape is to follow the portentous instructions of a mysterious female caller, who manipulates all forms of digital technology in order to break Jerry out of jail and coerce him and a single mother (Michelle Monaghan) into an intensely dangerous mission.

“Spielberg has taken LaBeouf and Caruso under his wing…”

With a credit as Executive Producer, it’s easy to see why Steven Spielberg has taken LaBeouf and Caruso under his wing.  This is only Caruso’s second feature (following last year’s Disturbia, which also starred LaBeouf) but he proves himself to be adept at orchestrating frenetic, crunching action without a reliance on CGI, whilst incorporating some nifty fly on the wall shots that heighten the sense of discomforting paranoia.  He takes a high concept and where it lacks originality he makes up for it in sheer energy, dispensing with the smart quips and shallow romance oft associated with the action genre.  Shia LaBeouf has a charismatic everyman quality that could well see him becoming this generation’s Tom Hanks, as he consistently brings an effortless charm and emotive reflection to the lead character, but it’d be good to see the actor stretch himself in a more challenging role.   

“Eagle Eye can’t afford to drop its reckless pace”

The rest of the cast do a solid job too, with Michael Chiklis playing perhaps the first big screen Secretary of Defence to have a conscience, and Rosario Dawson showing her versatility as an efficient Air force Investigator.  Unfortunately her sub-plot doesn’t contribute a great deal to the narrative, and invariably slows its progress.  This shouldn’t be such a glaring issue, but Eagle Eye can’t afford to drop its reckless pace as it affords viewers time to contemplate the elaborate contrivances that make up a plot that’s holier than the Pope’s pin cushion. 

Eagle Eye is an enjoyable Techno-romp that excels when it’s belting out tense, high velocity action, but lacks logic and it’s too far fetched to exploit the potential of its ominous high concept.

Rating ***

Listen to the review as featured on BBC Radio Sheffield, Leeds and York on Wednesday 22nd October.   You can tune in to the Russell Walker Late Show at 88.6FM or listen online.