Director
Gavin Hood
Leading Actors/Actresses
Helen Mirren
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Alan Rickman, Aaron Paul, Barkhad Abdi
Genre
Thriller, War Movie
Language
English
Awards
No major awards
Date of Release
September 11, 2015
Producer
Ged Doherty, Colin Firth, David Lancaster
Setting and Context
3 separate settings; London, Nevada, Kenya
Narrator and Point of View
The point of view is that of Helen Mirren's character, Colonel Powell
Tone and Mood
Suspenseful, threatening, though-provoking
Protagonist and Antagonist
Colonel Powell and the allied COBRA are the protagnoists; the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab are the antagonists
Major Conflict
The major conflict is between the terrorists and those attempting to capture them and prevent a suicide bombing.
There is also conflict between the main characters as their viewpoint about the strikes and the civilian casualty differ.
Climax
The strike is successful and the suicide bombing is prevented.
Foreshadowing
Powell's manipulation of the risk assessment foreshadows the civilian casualty.
Understatement
N/A
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
The entire movie was shot in South Africa with locations the replicated the locations in America and Britain. Drone action was filmed out of the country and the footage added to the movie at time of edit, because drones were not permitted in South Africa.
Allusions
The film alludes to the difficulties that occur when a mission is both political and military and the often different objectives of the two.
Paradox
The under secretary, a politician who has never seen any military action, is accusing a lifelong soldier of not understanding the price of war.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between Powell's determination to neutralize the threat posed by the suicide bombers and her anger over the murder of one of her operatives.
