2014-11-08

20141108: Drama Review--The East



The East
  1. Fundamentals, reception.
    1. American/British live action feature length film, 2013, rated PG13, 116 minutes, drama, thriller.
    2. IMDB: 6.9/10.0 from 33,230 audience ratings. Estimated budget, 6.5 million USD.
    3. Rotten Tomatoes: 74% on the meter; 65% liked it from 19,118 audience ratings.
    4. I saw this on HBO.
    5. Directed by Zal Batmanglij; written by Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling.
    6. Starring: Brit Marling as Jane Owens/Sarah Moss, Alexander Skarsgard as Benji, Ellen Page as Izzy Cannon, Toby Kebbell as Doc, Shiloh Fernandez as Luca, Aldis Hodge as Thumbs, Danielle MacDonald as Tess, Jamey Sheridan as Richard Cannon.

  2. Setup and Plot
    1. Jane Owens goes undercover for her security firm to gain intelligence about an eco-terrorist group called The East.  As Sarah Moss, Jane succeeds in this.

    2. Soon enough, Jane takes part in the group's 'jams' or stings of corporations who have done illegal actions, such as selling poisonous drugs or polluting drinking water with carcinogens and other toxins.  In so doing, she participated in the commission of multiple felonies.  For some reason, this is not considered a problem.

    3. There are lots of consequences for the infiltrator, for the group's targets, and for The East itself.

    4. Will Jane make it out alive from this group of psychotics?  The first time I believed it, but not afterward.  Will The East survive its own terminal self-importance?  Will any of the felons described do any jail time?

  3. Conclusions
    1. One line summary: PI infiltrates eco-terrorist group that preys on corporate evildoers.
    2. Two stars of five.

  4. Scores
    1. Cinematography: 7/10 Professionally done, but not interesting.

    2. Sound: 7/10 Professionally done, but not interesting.

    3. Acting: 0/10 Sigh.  This is the weakest part of the film. There were zero believable performances.  

    4. Screenplay: 2/10 What was the point of this story?  Advocacy for eco-terrorism?  An illustration of the Stockholm syndrome?  Another vanity film (Brit Marling) that just looks like a botched effort?


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