Good Kill

This is a, at least in my opinion, a realistic portrayal of the inner conflict of UAV "pilot" and has very real characters with very real moral conflicts, and to me, that's a very interesting setup and my kind of movie. I don't think this'll be everyone's movie though. There's no epic awesome action sequence or extremely tense moments (there is a couple of moments that are more intense than the overall feel of the movie but not super intense). The main thing this movie has going for it is the deep gray-area type of moral conflict that the characters (not just the main character) face and it makes you think about them. Towards the end however, there is a very satisfactory feel that made you feel good and "all is just in the world" and that's a big plus for a movie like this, because a lot of these types of movie end in somewhat of an empty way. Now, as stated, because this isn't a entertainment kind of movie, there are going to be people saying that the characters were boring and monotonous, etc., but really, that's what fit the movie setup, and that's what is realistic. It's definitely not for everyone, but it was my type of film and I enjoyed it and plan to rewatch it to rethink through the moral conflicts in the movie.

Drones with Hellfire missiles lurk for entire days over selected targets around the world. Those who control the drones, sitting in air conditioned shipping containers near Las Vegas, are close enough sometimes to see the expressions on the faces of people as the missiles strike. The film explores complications involved in the strikes including; how easy it is for innocents to end up among the dead, difficulties in determining when and who to hit, confused chains of command, how easy it is to make mistakes or corrupt the process, and how we might feel if we were in the shoes of our targets. Major Thomas Egan (Ethan Hawke) is a vodka guzzling former pilot who laments how the U.S. Air Force has become the "U.S. Chair Force." We follow him in the office and at home as he sinks into depression, indifference and fatigue, and he still controls the trigger that determines, somewhat shakily at times, who lives or dies. While the plot could use some additional creativity and depth, and the acting is somewhat shallow, the film explores a fascinating subject. Actual strikes, from Wikileaks, add an extra dose or realism. Seen at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.

Even though I hate every war and soldiers on this planet I did enjoy this movie. It's all about the ethics of war. Who has the right killing other people? And is it fair for the innocent bystanders to get killed and being considered as collateral damage? Because let's be honest, the people that are at the top of every government and/or army, the people that decide if we should go to war or not, those are the people that will never get killed because they are the biggest cowards on this planet. They risk absolutely nothing but still get the credit in case of a victory or whatever. In Good Kill Ethan Hawke plays the soldier that has to push the trigger to kill people from the other end of the world, without being in the front line. He has to follow the dubious orders from maleficent evil people that have only greed and possessions as values in their lives. I thought it was a good movie, if you want to think a little bit further then the mainstream war propaganda we see every day. A good movie if you are like me thinking that every war is completely ridiculous. If everybody would mind his own business then there would never be wars. But then again, we are humans, the parasites of this planet, and thinking this madness will ever end is just an utopian idea.

Ethan's acting is probably the biggest deterrent for me in this movie, but luckily the cheesiness doesn't last more than the first half. Silly things like his leather jacket to help him stand out amongst his peers in the desert sun at mid day. The movie is so well directed though, and the script is paced superbly. The dialog and character development keep you inside the head without having to narrate or explain anything overtly to the viewer so it really provokes thought in an organic way.

Supporting actors are very well integrated. Overall a terrific movie. I give it an 8 but at times it would be +/- 1 from beginning to end (7 to start, 9 at the end).

Very highly recommended if you're in the mood for something cerebral and heartfelt. I'd compare it to Requiem for a Dream, Rebound or Paid in Full in that respect.

Good kill delivers a striking message with pinpoint accuracy. It deals with a disturbing side of war in all of its unabashed glory. The lead Ethan Hawke is excellent in his description of a man with two contrasting life, one or both of them might seem painfully surreal for him. Script is just as brash as it is refreshing, filled with military jargon and also complex questions. This is not an orthodox war movie, yet it venture farther than most.

Tom Egan (Ethan Hawke) is a drone pilot, fighting war from halfway across the globe. This seemingly non-dangerous job weighs on his mind as his relationships with his wife Molly (January Jones) suffers from the stress. The story pushes harder as the mission is gradually becoming more morally dubious and many lives are at stake. Acting is really solid, Hawke looks just like a seasoned veteran who's been drained by his service.

January Jones as his wife is mostly subtle, but she performs greatly on the more emotional scenes. It's not the normal melodramatic relationship that these two have, there's an effort to create functioning family, yet they are far too detached and distant to each other. Egan's colleagues are also excellent, especially Zoe Kravitz as Suarez, his younger co-pilot who exhibits rare virtue in the line of work and Bruce Greenwod as the commander who is as sympathetic as he is duty bound, who also delivers a mean speech.

Script is amazing, dialogues are powerfully engaging and thought provoking. It showcases suspense despite the pilots are not physically engaged in combat. The brash attitude, smart jab and fervent inquiries are presented elegantly to audiences. However, the constant switch between bird eye view and ordinary cinematography might be jarring and repetitive. While the everyday grind and heavy theme are meant to be exhausting, they can be excessively claustrophobic for the audiences.

Good Kill is not a conventional blockbuster action movie, yet it will generate profound contemplation for its emotionally taxing premise.