“The
East” , among other things, asks if two wrongs make a right? Are you
justified in filling a CEO’s house of an oil company, that was
responsible for a massive oil spill, with crude oil? Is there anything
‘wrong’ with giving the owners of a pharmaceutica, a dose of their own
medicine, in champagne, which has caused illness and death in patients?
When does an ‘eye for an eye’ become immoral, unethical? Will you ever
look at  Alexander Skarsgard, if you are familiar with “True Blood”, as
anyone but Eric the vampire?

Brit
Marling, who co-wrote the screenplay with the director, Zal Batmanglij,
stars as Jane, an ex-FBI agent, who goes to work for Sharon, (Patricia
Clarkson) owner of a security firm who goes after environmental
protesters who do what the group who calls themselves “The East” does.
She goes undercover as Sarah and infiltrates the group and, disregarding
Sharon’s warning about ‘going soft’ finds herself agreeing with the
protesters but not their methods. There is no doubt that corporations
are the villains of the movie but what about those protesters and what
they bring?

The
movie follows Sarah, who because of her job, is leading a double life
and also, to a certain degree, what motivates Skarsgard (Benji), Toby
Kebbell (Doc), Ellen Page (Izzy) and Shiloh Fernandez (Luca) to commit
what they refer to as ‘jams’. There is a love story and a few missteps
regarding motivations but “The East” definitely will hold your interest.

The
acting by all the cast is first rate, as are most of the production
values, and the film will hold your interest with the questions it is
asking though the script goes a little too ‘Hollywood’ now and then.  It
is certainly a relief from all the pre-summer loud, action films that
have been released and will have you talking about it, and the premise,
after it is over.

It is rated PG-13 for violence, some close your eyes images, sexual content and nudity. Running time is 1 hour and 56 minutes.