The East Review

The East

3.5 stars out of 4

By Brett Takeshita

I love thrillers. In fact, it may be my favorite film genre of all. However, it's difficult to find great thrillers. Recently, there haven't been that many thrillers that are extremely well-made. They lack some of these necessary qualities: suspense, intelligence, complexity, and surprise. However, one film changes this trend of subpar thrillers, and that film is The East. This is the most engaging, gripping, and exciting thriller that I have seen in quite some time, and I doubt that I will see a finer thriller this year.

The East follows Sarah (Brit Marling), a skilled worker who is hired by an intelligence firm to infiltrate and expose a threatening group called The East. This group performs surprise attacks against major corporations and powerful individuals that harm humans, animals, and the environment. Once Sarah lives at their secret hideout and learns more about the members of The East -- the magnetizing leader, Benji (Alexander Skarsgard), and the spunky yet tough Izzy (Ellen Page) in particular -- she finds herself at a crossroad. Sure, these people are dangerous, but is what they are doing actually wrong? After all, they are hurting a few to save many. Also, is her spying and backstabbing really as morally honorable as her boss (Patricia Clarkson) suggests? These are some of the questions that Sarah asks herself as she struggles to do her job without getting too caught up in this bizarre yet ever intriguing group.

This is the second collaboration between director/co-writer Zal Batmanglij and actress/co-writer Brit Marling. Their first was the little seen yet remarkable achievement called Sound of My Voice. It was one of my favorite films of 2012. There are definitely parallels between these two films, such as the complex questions that they raise and the eerie sense of mystery that they evoke. However, The East is a bigger and more ambitious picture, and I find it to be even more successful than Sound of My Voice. Batmanglij and Marling's script is tremendous. It hooks you from the start and keeps you riveted until the very end. It unfolds in some shocking ways, and I never knew where it was going. And even though this is an entertaining thriller that I believe will appeal to many people, this is also a contemporary piece of art that is so relevant to our society today. It brings up difficult questions regarding morality and ecology and truly makes you reflect upon your own views of big current day events. It's nice to finally watch a film that isn't afraid to be daring. It's also amazing to witness a complex thriller that doesn't dumb down its material for its audience.

Zal Batmanglij is one of my favorite new directors. He directs The East with such incredible precision. The amount of mystery and suspense in this film is killer (The wonderful score definitely enhances these two attributes). You will hold your breath and be riveted by how the "jams," or the attacks on the corporations, pan out. Batmanglij has a keen sense of how to instill a sense of nervousness in the audience. He knows how to direct tremendous, suspenseful sequences that will keep you on the edge of your seat. He also has an incredible sense of rhythm and pacing. The East flies by, and you will never be bored. He keeps the film moving without tiring you out. And lastly, Batmanglij is excellent at directing quiet, personal moments. For example, the interactions between Sarah and the members of The East are hypnotic. Sarah's introspective moments are equally compelling. They lull you into a spell because of Batmanglij's spot-on directorial choices.

Batmanglij draws out incredible performances from his actors. The cast of The East is sensational. Brit Marling is shaping out to be one of the most intriguing actresses in Hollywood. Something about her on-screen presence is simply outstanding. She is able to magnetize with her beauty and grace. She is subdued and does not overact, even when things get crazy. She dials everything down and yet is always so engaging. Alexander Skarsgard gives one of his best performances yet with his extremely challenging performance. His character, Benji, is quiet, charismatic, and complex. Skarsgard portrays everything so well. He conveys so much with very few words. He is great in his brooding and always keeps us intrigued as to what his character is thinking. He is the perfect counterpart to Brit Marling because he is also electrifying and magnetic in his quietness. Ellen Page gives her best performance in quite some time. She gets some fantastic moments where she really shows off her acting prowess. She's capable of so much more than just being funny and sassy. She can be intense and fierce and likable all at once. Patricia Clarkson plays her villainous character with such icy skill. She is terrifying and cruel with her line delivery. It's an incredible performance for a rather small role that could have been easily forgotten. We also get some superb supporting work from Toby Kebbell, Shiloh Fernandez, and Hillary Baack, all as distinct members of The East. This is a phenomenal acting ensemble.

While The East is receiving generally positive reviews from critics and audiences, many are complaining about the ending. I did not have nearly as big of a problem with the ending as some people do, but I would say that the ending is a little bit different than the rest of the film. The final moments are a little more conventional and predictable than the complicated and original first two acts of the film. The ending is perfectly acceptable as it is, but a slightly more complex ending would have been true to the spirit of the rest of the film and would have made the film perfect.

The East is a nearly flawless motion picture that I loved. The film has stuck with me for a long time, and I can't stop thinking about it. This film will challenge you and stick with you in the best way possible. Only the best thrillers can do this. The East is one of the few. It is, without a doubt, one of the best films of the year. Three and a half stars out of four.