In the information age, there are a wealth of technologies that can be used for good or bad purposes, which raises some ethical dilemmas. These moral questions are at the heart of "Eye in the Sky ," a new film about drone warfare starring Helen Mirren and Aaron Paul. The film, which will be released on March 11, follows a counterterrorism mission that changes when a drone reveals new information about the terrorists' situation. It's a thrilling thriller that touches on relevant political issues, but is Eye in the Sky a true story?
Alas, while the film looks at real-world issues, Eyes in the Sky is fiction. In an interview with KCET, director Gavin Hood praised screenwriter Guy Hibbert for writing a script that "sparks a conversation about the ethics of drone warfare." But interestingly, Hood insisted on one major change to the original script: He wanted the lead character to be a woman. Hood explained to KCET that he was motivated to make the decision because "this is the future of warfare, and more and more women are doing these jobs." So Helen Mirren was brought on board, and her performance is as good as any The "according to" story is just as true. This isn't the first time Mirren has played a character so convincingly that looks like it 's based on true events. Here are some other Helen Mirren movies that might leave you scratching your head, wondering if they're real.
Trumbo
real? Yes! This 2015 biopic chronicles the life and career of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. Mirren plays real-life gossip columnist Hedda Hopper.
golden woman
real? Yes. Mirren plays Maria Altmann, a real-life Jewish refugee who launches legal action against the Austrian government to recover a family painting stolen by the Nazis in Vienna.
A hundred-foot journey
real? No. This film about the rivalry between two very different restaurants is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Moraes.
hitchcock
real? Yes, Mirren plays Alma Reville, the wife of Alfred Hitchcock, in the film based on the non-fiction book "Alfred Hitchcock and Psycho."
game status
real? No. Starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck and several other stars, the film is a completely fictional political thriller. Mirren plays newspaper editor Cameron Lynn, who is also fictional.
It's hard to tell whether some of Helen Mirren's films are based on true stories, but in the case of Eye in the Sky , that doesn't seem to be the point. More importantly, the film raises pertinent questions about an increasingly common type of warfare. If there's one person who can solve these problems, it's Helen Mirren.
Image: Entertainment One, Bleecker Street, The Weinstein Company, Walt Disney Pictures, Fox Searchlight, Universal Pictures
