Review: The East

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It's easy when it's not you...
 
Sarah (Brit Marling) is an undercover operator for an elite intelligence firm. She's tasked with infiltrating a group known as The East. They're anarchic environmentalists that are targeting large corporations. Oil companies, pharmaceutical companies, etc. Sarah is mesmerized by the group's unofficial leader, Benji. (Alexander Skarsgard) With fellow group members, Izzy, (Ellen Page) Doc, (Toby Kebbell) and Luca, (Shiloh Fernandez, how the hell this guy keeps getting roles is beyond me) Sarah gets in on their "jams" and starts to question her place in all of this.
 
Brit Marling not only starred in this, but she wrote the screenplay as well. I'm officially looking forward to seeing more of her, because I thought the whole thing was brilliant. The film felt very tense, as I was always worried that Sarah was going to get caught. I got very attached to her, so I felt like I was having the same dilemmas she was during these jams. It's wrong to terrorize people, but it's also wrong to knowingly poison them. These are some of the situations we are faced with.
 
Marling was great in her role. Having written Sarah, it's obviously she knows her inside out. Skarsgard is always a pleasure to watch. He's mysterious and sexy and it's easy to see why Sarah would have feelings for him. Ellen Page's role is a bit smaller, but she provides quite a bit of the voice overs for The East's video clips they post on the web. It was fun seeing her in a role like that. Izzy was wary of Sarah all along.
 
The East is one of the best films I've seen all year, and you should definitely check it out if it comes to your city. Stay during the beginning of the credits too.
 
Recommended: Yes
 
Grade: A
 
Memorable Quote: "I missed feeling uncomfortable." - Sarah (Brit Marling)

Comments

  1. Candice FrederickJune 25, 2013 at 11:32 AM

    woohoo! so glad you liked this too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CourtneyJune 25, 2013 at 1:01 PM

    Your review has convinced me that I need to see this one, and to stop putting it off!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alex WithrowJune 25, 2013 at 4:59 PM

    Whoa, an A?! Okay, I need to see this ASAP.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJune 25, 2013 at 8:14 PM

      Definitely worth your time! I think this is the best film I've seen all year. (Other than Star Trek Into Darkness, which I liked more than everybody despite the logic gaps)

      Delete
  4. JoshJuly 8, 2013 at 6:54 PM

    I loved Sound of My Voice, but I didn't expect this to be that good. Now I really need to see it!

    ReplyDelete

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