The East (2013) User Reviews

Makes you think!

[beyonder-3 · 8/10 · 23 September 2013]

This is a movie in which you debate with yourself, where would you draw the line in search of justice against greedy corporations, if that corporations inflicted on you the kind of damage they did on the characters of this movie. Knowing that it was inspired by actual actions that some corporations have taken, just makes us think even harder on whats going on in our world. The acting is very good, everyone plays their character very well. You just have to feel sympathy for all of the character especially "Doc". I recommend anyone who wants to see a movie which gives you something important to think about to watch this. Very well done. 8 out of 10!

"The East" is simply just a solid, taut and investing thriller that values telling the story of its characters, while keeping the political stance to the side.

[swp_1988 · 8/10 · 26 July 2013]

I generally get tired of films pushing politics throughout their story with all this left-wing, right-wing crap, that because of the focus of the group of people who make that type of film, so becomes an entanglement of an unnecessary debate with audiences and critics, that the film itself becomes lost. The East tells its message straight and clear and understands that most will agree with a majority of its ideas, but never loses sight of the story and the characters its wants to portray.

The East follows an operative for a PI firm who is handpicked to infiltrate an extreme anarchist group who focus their sights on major corporations for the crimes they have committed on humanity. I agree that that basic synopsis probably will make a few shy away from seeing it, but I don't believe anyone will come out of the film in a heated debate with the next person on its political issues, however timely. It has a great perspective instead on what we as individuals value most. It never allows itself to succumb to any political wash-over, but instead takes a side for the characters and where they stand as people that manages to invest us in the emotional elements rather than just straight ideals.

Brit Marling plays the operative at hand and also co-wrote the screenplay with up-and-comer, Zal Batmanglij. They both worked together and the equally excellent Sound of My Voice last year and its apparent that they have continued to build their ground in their respective fields, each finding a voice to be heard away from the mainstream flow.

The East is simply just a solid, taut and investing thriller that values telling the story of its characters, while keeping the political stance to the side and also having fun tangling the audience up its in web.

Stunning and unpretentious

[AvidClimber · 8/10 · 22 June 2013]

The East is the kind of movie that makes you want to join the fight, raise your voice and be heard.

The good. Extremely immersive. A incredible story with lots of emotions, conflicts, opposing moralities, and a stupefying journey. It is gripping and you will not be left unmoved.

The actors. Brit Marling and Ellen Page both give us a great performance. I was disappointed by Alexander Skarsgård, I thought that he was the weak player of the cast. The rest of the cell was pretty solid: Toby Kebbell, Shiloh Fernandez, Aldis Hodge, and Danielle Macdonald. And I should mention the nice work done by Patricia Clarkson as the director of the private security firm.

The bad. The ending is rushed. It feels like there was missing material at the end of filming and they couldn't go back to get what they needed and had to edit it with what they had.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. A must see for anyone.

A plot we have never seen before.

[gabrielrenom · 7/10 · 20 September 2013]

The east is one of those movies the just fall from the tree, and when they fall you realize it is probably on of the best movies of the year. The fact some eco-terroristts decide to fight against large evil corporations(pharma,oil,coal etc.) makes the story even more interesting. Brit Marlin does a brilliant acting, being an undercover agent, but a human one, not one of those Hollywood super-heroes-I-save-the-world-again. The rest of the actors have a brilliant acting. If you want a "human" movie where intelligence and reality clash from start to finish, this is your movie, but remember to watch it slowly, so you can get the most of it.

A good story, good cast, and a good writer. Where could this movie go wrong?

[JustinBell4 · 7/10 · 29 January 2013]

The East: an environmentalist group following the philosophy of an eye for an eye. The movie follows Sarah, an agent trying to infiltrate The East. The movie was almost always exciting, but showed more of the emotional side of the characters.

I had a lot of fun with this one. At times I found myself holding my breath, and couldn't figure out why. The movie had a good flow to it, with enough exciting parts to keep you from falling asleep. My biggest complaint with the movie is it didn't go as deep into the emotional sides of things and felt like it wanted to be more of a mainstream movie because of it.

Corporate America versus the Anarchists: Is anyone right?

[steven-leibson · 19 May 2013]

Just saw this movie courtesy of the San Jose Camera Cinema Club. This is a well-acted, thought-provoking movie that asks many questions about the balance between the excesses of corporate America and the excesses of violent anarchist groups fighting against them. (Think Weather Underground and the SLA.) The protagonist is a young woman working for a top private security company in the Washington DC beltway on behalf of those corporations. She's assigned to infiltrate an anarchist group called "The East" to prevent damage to her company's corporate clients. The ensuing exposition of the anarchist group's actions ("jams") makes for a very suspenseful and credible movie with many plot twists and turns including the ending of the movie, which is diffused with the credits. Nothing is as it seems, just like a good spy movie ought to be. So go see the movie and don't leave until the credits finish rolling.

Good subject, but missing something ...

[kriddirk · 7/10 · 19 July 2013]

Certainly a good subject and a touchy one. We have several movies treating this subject, the environment, the corruption. When I left the cine I asked me the question : Could this be true and yes, certainly. And that its all about, if you leave the cine and keep on thinking about the subject and discuss it with others. I didn't knew that much about Brit Marling and this film awakened my interest. Good acting and she has many opportunities to go as actress, writer or director. The movie is a must see, but ... it is not that much of a thriller, the action scenes are rather short and don't ask that much of attention and that is what it is meant to be, because the movie target is to show us how Brit Marling integrates in the East, her feelings, her changes in ideas. But also in the emotional part I find this movie rather general. It seems that they don't want to go a bit in depth on the subject, keep it simple for the spectator, the client. Keep it mainstream. So, it is not an action movie, but either enters in difficult matters. The subject is although unique and a must see. The end of the movie. Seems that it was time to finish and so they did, a bit in a rush.

An outstanding addition to Brit Marling's repertoire

[Emma_Stewart · 9/10 · 2 May 2013]

Since 2011's Another Earth landed at Sundance and nabbed the Special Jury Prize, Brit Marling has quickly cemented herself as one of the most exciting and challenging new talents. When she feels a genre hasn't been explored to its full potential, she takes it further. When she notices women her age are typecast in boring roles, she writes her own. She's a visionary filmmaker with something to say and the talent and ambition to make sure she's heard - her second collaboration with director and co- writer Zal Batmanglij, The East, is no exception, and is perhaps the peak of her already illustrious career so far.

The film follows Jane Owen (Marling), an undercover security agent, as she leaves behind her doting boyfriend (Jason Ritter) to infiltrate an eco-terrorist group known as The East, who have publicly targeted massive corporations for their covered-up crimes against humans and nature. In between reports to her icy, amoral boss (Patricia Clarkson), Jane slowly grows fascinated with the group, its morals and goals, and its core (Alexander Skarsgard, Ellen Page, Shiloh Fernandez, Toby Kebbell), observing with a mix of horror and infatuation as they execute their violent "jams" on the corporations' key members.

The East will inevitably draw comparisons to Sean Durkin's Martha Marcy May Marlene because of the subject matter and its ingenue leading lady.The East is not as much of a psychological profile, but there are interesting similarities - like Durkin, Batmanglij and Marling never really villainize or condemn their subects; instead, they make a point of showing the East's appeal. We, the audience, begin to understand why these troubled young people would find solace and purpose in what is essentially a band of guerrilla terrorists, and, in turn, why Jane is so hypnotized by them. It makes for an uncomfortably provocative watch: as we learn more about the characters, their backgrounds, and the corporations' crimes (which are based in fact), it's hard to determine who the "bad guys" are. I saw the film at a festival where Batmanglij gave a short Q&A after and he revealed that he, Marling, and Page had lived with similar groups (without the terrorism) before and were sympathetic with the East's cause, if not their methods. The sympathy shows in the writing and most of the time that's a good thing, but there are times when it gets closer to bias and muddies otherwise brilliant storytelling - but these are blips in the overall outstanding product.

Marling is, as always, enigmatic and hypnotizing, but she is an observer and lets the other characters do the talking; it takes highly skilled actors to command empathy for villains and the cast doesn't disappoint. Alexander Skarsgard is incredibly charismatic and persuasive, and he fills in the blanks admirably whenever his development is cut short. Patricia Clarkson surprises in an unusual role for her - she hints that her character might be more evil than any of the terrorists she is hunting. Jason Ritter and Hillary Baack are affecting in their small roles, and Julia Ormond dominates her five minutes of screen time - her last scene is perhaps the most haunting in the film. Ellen Page gives a career-best performances and reminds us that she's a force to be reckoned with if only she were given the chance to show off more often. She commands the screen with intimidating animosity from the second she walks on screen and has some genuinely heartbreaking moments later on.

In spite of occasional misfires, the screenplay is exceptional especially in its efficiency: there is so much going on that there isn't much time to devote to individual characters or relationships - Marling and Ritter's suffers the most - but Marling and Batmanglij make every second count as each line is weighted with enough subtext to tell us the stories implicitly and thoroughly nevertheless. The major characters are very well-drawn; even though we only get glimpses into Skarsgard, Page and Kebbell's pasts, we feel we know them inside and out. The film moves along at a fluid, adrenaline-pumping pace and the tension is genuine and organic rather than forced - the audience's investment in the story grows from affection for the characters and connection with their ideals rather than cheap editing tricks, manipulative music and stylized lighting or sound. Music is used so sparsely that when The National's "About Today" plays over a silent montage of Marling's character breaking down, its emotional weight surprises and stuns. The ending is comparatively underwhelming, but the overall package is one of the best, most provocative thrillers in years and firmly establishes Batmanglij and Marling as a sensational and important pairing.

Worthwhile

[johanrattus · 6/10 · 16 July 2013]

Truth is stranger than fiction so it's hard for a two-hour fictional film to compete with real examples of immorality, greed, and corruption that are rife within corporate America. Documentaries such as Enron, Who Killed the Electric Car, and Food, Inc. are more powerful because they're real. However, The East is solidly produced and acted as it dishes up fictional corporate misdeeds and misinformation perpetrated in the name of power and profit. The East humanizes its activist characters by giving insight into their varied and often mainstream pasts and into what fuels their battles against the system. Activists can be people too. At two hours, The East is limited in the number of corporate transgressions its activists can pursue and attempt to undermine, but it is an entertaining reminder of the type of malfeasance that goes on as it builds to a suspenseful and thought-provoking end. Good movie, not great, but worth watching.

Unexpected

[shellycaldeira808 · 9/10 · 22 September 2013]

After watching some of the trailers for this movie, I assumed it was going to be qua-say Fahrenheit 911 done in a dramatically acted story... I assumed is was a film only for the 99%'er liberal democrat.

Boy was I wrong! AND pleasantly surprised. This film is full of heart and ugly truths delivered brilliantly and beautifully. I particularly enjoyed the side characters as their roles were impact-full to the overall feel one cant help but take away. This film evoked feelings of remorse, gentleness, a sense of being cheated, love, anger and sorrow. Yet it was uplifting and gave me a sense of hopefulness as well.

The only reason I don't give it a full 10 is because I really wanted to see more and more at the end!! Don't get me wrong, its got a great ending... I just wanted MORE!!!

Ambivalence about corporate evil in a cult thriller

[Chris Knipp · 6/10 · 17 June 2013]

The East is a thriller about a private intelligence firm that protects large corporations from "ecoterrorist" groups by infiltrating them and sabotaging them -- more or less the same thing the "ecoterrorists" do to corporations, but with law enforcement backup. The story's focus is confused; it takes no stand -- or does it? It gives rise to more questions than it answers, and its screenplay, though clever, and partly based on experience, feels improvised. But while the action is going on and the music is surging, the movie, as a genre piece, firmly holds our attention. It even has a touch of class, helped by some stellar actors and by the handsome cinematography of Roman Vasyanov. But it doesn't seem as memorable as some related movies, which is some ways it also too much resembles.

The protagonist of The East is a risk-taking, driven, and -- this is surely important -- very pretty young woman with an FBI background, called undercover Sarah, real name Jane (Brit Marling, who co-scripted, her third time at that). Directed by Sharon (Patricia Clarkson), her coolly professional (read: amoral) company boss and handler, and seemingly falling in with it by chance after hopping a freight train with one of its members, Jane/Sarah penetrates a group called The East. Why it has this name is one of those unanswered questions. Getting its members' sympathy by cutting herself, Sarah is at once drawn into The East, and later unwittingly attracted to its lifestyle and anti-corporate views. In some ways it seems like a cult, rather like the one in Sean Durkin's Martha Marcy May Marlene, where Elizabeth Olsen resembles Brit Marling. But The East is cult lite: its members utter some mumbo jumbo, and engage in odd rituals like dining wearing straight jackets and playing a ponderous form of spin-the- bottle, but because they're "anarchists," I guess, they aren't under anybody's spell. The East's members eat Dumpster food, and squat in a large burned-out house, which turns out to have belonged to the family of one of their leaders, Benji. He is played by Alexander Skarsgård, who as usual is laid-back, appealing, and -- this is important -- handsome, making him a natural match for Sarah. Maybe the leader is Izzy (Ellen Page). She doesn't seem like a leader or ideologue either, but she is convincingly irritating and bossy -- the Ellen Page of Juno without the humor or the charm. She seems burdened with something: it turns out her father is an odious CEO.

Are anarchists (another label used) or "ecoterrorists" (a word I thought more usually related to environmentalism like Edward Abbey's) in groups that are like cults? Are there many of them? Are they successful? We don't know but hints are given out of the fact that currently the government, and not just private intelligence firms, is after them, and metes out severe punishments to them, one "terrorist" being much like another, in corporate and government eyes. Anyway, Sarah is involved with The East as a backup member when others disappear or are eliminated. But while her penetration may or may not be successful, her intention of blocking the group's "jams" seemingly isn't. These "jams" aren't surprise public sing-alongs; they're acts of corporate sabotage.

The East's first big "jam" with Sarah on hand involves the executives of a major drug company at a party. Infiltrating East members poison the corporate partiers by injecting one of their own medications into their glasses of champagne. This drug has caused brain damage, even though it's being administered wholesale to the people of Kenya. They know this because one of their own members with medical experience in Africa, known as Doc (Toby Kebbell) is himself a victim. (This is the same theme that The Constant Gardener treats in considerably more depth). Spin doctoring by the corporation follows when the sabotage comes out, but later also testimony indicating the drug's dire consequences on the brain have been made public. Fox News each time is the source. This is, by the way, a Fox Searchlight film.

The next "jam" is to personally capture and torment the heads of an oil company responsible for a different kind of poisoning. The water supply of a town has long been contaminated by arsenic and lead, causing deaths of children. It turns out The East has personal involvement here too: one of them is a member of the CEO's family. Benji, by the way, has no personal tie-in with corporate wrongdoing; he just became aware of the corrupting power of wealth by inheriting a lot of money.

And so it goes, with many emotional scenes, in one of which Sarah performs abdominal surgery, directed by Doc, whose brain damage from the drug he took has made his hands too shaky. Sarah and Benji (spoiler alert) kiss. Sharon reveals her chilly indifference to anything but the good of her intelligence firm's clients. Sarah seems ready to "turn," but she and Benji (spoiler alert again) "turn" in different directions.

In his NY Times review A.O. Scott hints that giving each key member of The East some purely personal reason for commitment to the "jams" loses any sense that "anarchists" or "ecoterrorists" have a shared ideology and common body of knowledge. Scott decides it's futile to wish that this movie "would frame the contradictions of contemporary capitalism more rigorously." What he means by "contradictions" he doesn't say but maybe the big one this movie ignores is how much the interests of corporations and government have become indistinguishable. Actually, what The East flirted with but couldn't do was endorse illegal anti-corporate activism. Or could it? Well, not in a commercial genre thriller distributed by Fox Searchlight.

The East, like Brit Marling's two previous writing-acting collaborations, debuted at Sundance. It opened in NYC and LA 31 May 2013; opens in the UK 28 June.

a stunning film that grows on you-it is a summer burner do not miss it!

[zken-1 · 8/10 · 9 June 2013]

Without going into a lot of detail, this is the perfect movie for a summer day. And it just keeps on growing on you. The fact that there is another movie on this topic waiting to be made, well, that is often the case. The really exciting part of this is that Britt is not, drum roll, a star, but now she is. It can always be said that a film that is a stunning star vehicle for an actress, well, that only seems to come along every few years. And this ranks right at the top of those. Britt is not only beautiful and charismatic, but she obviously has a deep intelligence and creativity that is a perfect mix for this day and age. I say -rush out a see this, do not read about it, and try to remember one thing, great actresses are like great bottles of wine, they get better and better for a long time. Looking at what is coming for her, she is already very busy. And the fact that she hit this out of the park, is a great career lift off. Brit, this is your time.

A beautiful rose full of thorns that will only be loved by a specific audience

[thefadingcam · 6/10 · 29 September 2013]

Brit Marling is making a name for herself as an actress and also a writer on the movies she stars. That was the case in Sound of My Voice, Another Earth, and now The East. Here, Brit Marling infiltrates a group of anarchists who try to make justice by their own hands with attacks on major corporations. Stylistically, The East has its own identity, reminding the likes of Martha Marcy May Marlene, Winter's Bone or Another Earth (which director is shared with The East). This is not a comfortable movie. It has interesting morale and political points of view, but mostly it is a movie about characters. Marling is very well, along with Skarsgard, but there's something about Ellen Page that is starting to feel annoying. The movie does not feel pretentious, but I felt a certain aura that distanced it from the audience, like if it didn't want to be loved by everyone, but only by some of its viewers. It is solid for what it is, it is thrilling and can leave you thinking if you connect to it, feeling like a beautiful rose with a lot of thorns that will be loved by a specific audience. Visit thefadingcam blog for more!

Dispensable

[christophe92300 · 4/10 · 12 September 2013]

Even if The East relies on a pretty original theme — eco-terrorism —, ultimately the movie is just a rather banal infiltration thriller.

The start is rather good but the script gradually gets bogged down into flagrant linearity and predictability. Boredom even shows up during certain tedious scenes at the farm, which by the way completely chop the rhythm.

As for the cast, it is pretty good overall even though we are sometimes under the impression that it wasn't fully exploited: Ellen Page, so often excellent, is, for example, totally transparent.

The intention was good but the movie turns out to be a lot too clumsy. Nevertheless, the reflections it arouses are pertinent and that's what's to remember from this rather dispensable thriller.

An interesting take on terror cells

[AscendeSuperius · 7/10 · 30 October 2021]

This film in a way portrays terror cells in a different light. Yes, they are radical, they are playing at the extremes, but yet you see as how some of their ideology are in fact legitimate and logical. (though measures taken were at the extremes)

Furthermore, the cinematography, the acting was a joy to watch. Unlike other films, the suspense was kept at a steady pace which kept it unique. Like many other Brit Marling films, this style is unique to her hence if you loved the rest you'll be sure to love this.

moral complexity

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 23 September 2013]

The idea of eco-terrorism is one of the most controversial due to risk that it equates activism with al-Qaeda's activities. Zal Batmanglij's movie "The East" looks at this issue, with Brit Marling playing an agent for a private intelligence firm infiltrating an environmental group that forces CEOs of polluting companies to experience the pollution.

People can debate forever whether the group's actions constitute terrorism, and even if their actions are justified whether what they do is the right way to deal with it. The fact remains that the pollution is real and will outlast us all. This is a movie that I recommend to everyone.

Pretty good

[Red_Identity · 7 December 2014]

As a big fan of Sound of my Voice, I'm interested in this director. The reviews for this really made it seem like a really by-the-numbers, formulaic, but decent spy thriller. It's definitely following a formula, but it's not as thin as the reviews made it out to be. It's not Sound of my Voice, by virtue of it just not being as interesting thematically and plot-wise as that film, and not as atmospheric and all around more creepy in its vibe. But it's better than the Hollywood dreck that we'd be sure to see, so in that regard it succeeds. Brit Marling is very good, as usual and unsurprisingly. I recommend this, yeah, and hope the director continues to make interesting, well-rounded films

Out of balance

[Stewball · 7/10 · 11 April 2013]

A well made but overly simplistic condemnation of corporate America. The eco-terrorist anarchists are presented as righteous while imperfect, yet only corrupt examples of corporate America are there to represent the seemingly, inevitably flawed state of capitalism. If some individuals are evil, does that make all individuals bad. The filmmakers here could point out that they didn't actually put all the corporate eggs in one basket, but the implication by omission is there.

Interesting and very well played characters, especially Brit Marling as a corporate undercover agent caught in the middle.

This will no doubt play well with the "Avatar" audience.

Don't understand negative reviews

[tommybass · 10/10 · 18 April 2020]

I don't usually review 7 year old movies but I'm a big fan of Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling, a very underrated duo. I think they're very talented writers and Brit is such a great actress. Everything they've made together is imaginative and provocative, way more interesting than 95% of the slop Hollywood pumps out. This film is really good as most of their other work, like The Sound of My Voice and The OA. Highly recommend.

Rather weak ecological thriller

[siderite · 6/10 · 7 April 2014]

The film stars people from the new wave of actors, the ones that play in indie or intellectual films, the ones with a message. Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgard, Ellen Page, Toby Kebbell, even Julia Ormond. The movie has such a script, too, one with a message, exposing the crimes corporations perpetrate against the environment and, directly or indirectly, the people.

However, the message is weak. The terrorists are postcard cultists, gathered around a charismatic character by their strong desire to belong to something greater. The one sent to get them is a corporate agent with a conscience, her handlers with no scruples. The corporate crimes obvious and as simple to uncover as injecting a single dose of an approved drug and immediately seeing the side effects. The ending tried to redeem the film, but failed, drowned within a fantasy that made no sense.

I wanted to like the film, but it felt lazy, taking shortcuts where none were necessary. In the end, not only I didn't empathize with the eco-terrorists, but I despised them completely, and the truth is I didn't "see" a way out of it. The corporatists were ridiculously Machiavellian, but with no real purpose, the terrorists stupid enough to defeat themselves, the charismatic leader unable to lead. Hell, the only thing worse would have been for the agent to be FBI or some other "good guy by default".

Bottom line: there was no real saving this film. Paranoid ecologists will love this film, but people who were not already convinced to their unflinching core of the truth of their beliefs will not change them because of The East. And if there were, then nothing changes their mind anyway.

Absolutely Stunning Film

[MackenzieCriswell · 9/10 · 1 June 2014]

This stands out as one of the most cinematic independent films that i have seen, felt like a real film. Independent films almost always have a great story to tell, as it requires such dedication from the cast and crew to make; therefore wouldn't be made if it did not have something to say. But most independent films seemed to find it except able to feel like and independent film, not saying they suck, it just doesn't feel like you are actually watching a film, and is (rightfully so) normally excused by the audience at film festivals, and in the select theaters it plays at, this film was highly cinematic and overall just told and utterly amazing story. It's the kind of film that keeps you thinking for weeks about the ideas portrayed in the film; and actually makes you want to rethink how you live your own life. All in all a great film to watch, amazing values, a great way to learn about a new life style; and a picture that really just gets you thinking. I'd recommend it for anyone to view.

Decent thriller that is too worthy for it's own good

[Red-Barracuda · 6/10 · 24 June 2013]

An undercover private security agent is sent to try an infiltrate an eco-terrorist group called The East who have been targeting big money corporations whose actions have caused death and destruction. Their philosophy is very much an eye for an eye so their retaliations are hard hitting. However, the agent finds much common ground with the group during her time with them and she subsequently begins to turn to their cause.

The East is a film that asks its audience to question who really the villains are. The eco-terrorists may carry out some extreme actions but aren't they essentially justified given the behaviour of the corporations they target? It's true that at times such as the drinks party where the group secretly feed the executives of the chemical firm the dangerous drug they have put on the market there is a certain justice at work and it's a good angle for a film. In general, there are quite a few interesting points discussed in the movie but unfortunately the message is diluted by the sheer worthiness of the presentation. The group themselves participate in lots of touchy-feely rituals and are practicing freegans (yes, really). The corporate types are one-dimensionally villainous – including one guy who attempts to rape the heroine – it's way too simplistic. If this had been a more straightforward thriller which emphasised action and thrills at the expense of everything else then that would be perfectly okay but The East is clearly a message movie and this means that such details matter more. There is definitely a good film in here somewhere but it needs to be made by someone who isn't hugging onto a tree while eating an apple out of a bin.

New direction

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 31 August 2013]

Not really, but a movie with a title like that is hard to market. At least that would be my guess. I had no idea what I was about to see, when I went to a sneak preview where this movie played. I thought it was handled with extreme care, trying to shine light on some issues of today. I would say it succeeded, but it's in the eye of the beholder to judge about it themselves.

One thing is for sure, you get really good performances from the cast. Everyone seems to be on their A-game. And while the narrator voice at the beginning may sound familiar (even without knowing who's in it), don't rely too much on that. You'll see what I mean once you've watched the movie. The message is clear, but maybe the end can surprise you a little bit. Either way, a thriller with tough choices

Predictable but entertaining

[euroGary · 7/10 · 26 July 2013]

Given that I was watching it at a cinema in London, I was surprised to see a classification certificate from the Irish Film Classification Office appear at the beginning of 'The East'; I know there are shedloads of people from the Republic in London, but I didn't think things had gone that far! Anyrhoda... an agent for a private security company goes undercover in a group of eco-terrorists ('The East' of the title) to try to deduce what their next targets are going to be, so her boss (an icily-efficient Patricia Clarkson) can get business from the targeted companies. The eco-terrorists' spiritual leader is played by Alexander Skarsgård (him off 'True Blood') who has done a Brad Pitt and uglied-up for the occasion by growing awful facial hair (and why is a Swede playing an American in an American production anyway? Did they run out of American actors?) Although the terrorists themselves are portrayed as a fairly well-rounded bunch - there is discussion about whether their ends justify their means - the businesspeople they target are almost all soulless evildoers - only once does one of them get to point out "But people want cheap coal!" shortly before the terrorists try to dump her in a polluted lake. And the ultimate reveal about the terrorists' relationship with the agent is not a surprise. Brit Marling makes a personable heroine, although I'd like to know what came first: her winning the role, or her title of 'Producer'...

Heavy-handed movie that lacks both courage and conviction.

[rutlandoakleaf · 5/10 · 14 July 2013]

This is a film that fails in several ways. It opens without providing the viewer with any sense of Sarah's beliefs, background, and reasons for working for what eventually we come to understand is a corrupt and unprincipled private security firm. Without establishing this starting point, there is no basis or gauge that we could use to understand Sarah's apparent change-of-heart as the story unfolds. The film also fails by stacking the deck against the East movement and making it almost impossible for the viewer to identify with their actions. The dumpster diving, their ragged appearance, and the ridiculous dinner at which they sit in straight-jackets and eat by picking up spoons with their mouths all serve not to make them sympathetic but only to alienate them from us. The dinner scene is so bizarre and aggressively ludicrous that it short-circuits whatever sympathy and identification we might have with their political actions. Finally, the film fails by ending not with a bang but a whimper as we see Sarah in various brief scenes in which she seems to be meeting individually with other undercover agents for the secretive private security firm and attempting to persuade them of the negative consequences of their actions. So, in the end, the film backs off from any conviction concerning the necessity of social movements or collective action to resolve social ills and instead valorizes the reactionary concept of the power of the individual, armed with nothing but logic and reason, to change the world. This notion doesn't change the world but only serves to reproduce the class structure and allow capitalist polluters and profiteers to sleep easy.