Good Kill
Starring Ethan Hawke, January Jones
Directed by Andrew Niccol
The psychological effects of warfare have been demonstrated countless times on film but rarely as ‘remotely’ as in Andrew Niccol’s thought-provoking drama Good Kill. The film asks – what is the impact of war on those who are not physically engaged on the battlefront but still participate in any number of kills?
Thomas Egan (Hawke) is a drone pilot, soon after 9/11, who remotely pilots killing machines designed to destroy terrorist targets thousands of miles away while he sits in the comfort of a Nevada bunker and essentially plays a real life video game when he goes to work. The job may seem simplistic but the results are disturbing, Egan is responsible for the loss of many lives and the work starts to take its toll. His off-duty drinking is sliding into problem territory and a distant marriage to January Jones becomes increasingly tenuous. Soon enough, the former pilot, who misses the danger of flying at supersonic speeds inside a cockpit, begins to questions the ethics of his role.
For the most part, Good Kill succeeds as a unique examination of modern warfare and handles the emotional impact of its characters in an admirably sensitive way. Much of the story also feels eerily like it could be set in the not-too-distant future. The film does stumble in sections as the morally-charged dialogue becomes overbearing or Bruce Greenwood’s Colonel Jack Johns barks one too many vitriolic clichés. However, Hawke’s intensity grounds the story and his domestic conflict makes for some genuine tension.
