Colonel Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren) leads a British operation to capture valuable Al-Shabaab terrorists in Kenya who are British citizens. It's a global effort with a US drone operated out of Vegas and monitored in Pearl Habor. There are local government operatives with state-of-the-art naturalistic drones camouflaged as a humming bird and a beetle. Lieutenant General Frank Benson (Alan Rickman) guides a group of British government leaders. The suspected terrorists leave for a Al-Shabaab controlled slum where the government military is reluctant to deploy. Soon, surveillance finds the group preparing suicide bomb vests and the mission escalates. After much debate, the kill order is given but USAF pilot Steve Watts (Aaron Paul) sees a little girl selling bread.
Director Gavin Hood tackles the complicated morality of the modern war. The politicians debate. Their hand wringing is tough to watch. The legal arguing is frustrating. It depicts the global disconnected nature of today's war as well as the guys on the ground level. Barkhad Abdi does another ethnic Somali character as a Kenyan agent. There are a couple of things I would alter. There is no need to concentrate on the little girl living or dying. Leaving it unknown would have been much more compelling. Also Aaron Paul should not be playing a rookie. It would be more compelling for a veteran to demand additional assessment. It hints for deeper meaning. They're minor alterations that are not absolutes.
Director Gavin Hood tackles the complicated morality of the modern war. The politicians debate. Their hand wringing is tough to watch. The legal arguing is frustrating. It depicts the global disconnected nature of today's war as well as the guys on the ground level. Barkhad Abdi does another ethnic Somali character as a Kenyan agent. There are a couple of things I would alter. There is no need to concentrate on the little girl living or dying. Leaving it unknown would have been much more compelling. Also Aaron Paul should not be playing a rookie. It would be more compelling for a veteran to demand additional assessment. It hints for deeper meaning. They're minor alterations that are not absolutes.