Review
"The East" is well acted marvelously photographed with an excellent musical score and a script that is not completely predictable. The story concerns an undercover agent (cowriter producer and star Brit Marling) who infiltrates an ecoterrorism group on behalf of her corporate boss (Patricia Clarkson in another chilly role) but who finds the group's support system and goals more engaging than her own even while some of their methods that involve harming others repel her. As the FBI moves in on the group she must choose between her loyalties to her old life and the allure of the new life knowing that whatever path she chooses involves a compromise.While all the actors do a good job I was particularly taken by Ellen Page ("Juno" "Inception") as the rich girl turned activist Jamey Sheridan (Ȭhicago Hope" "Homeland") in a brief appearance as her father Toby Kebbell (Ȭontrol" "RocknRolla") as the makeshift physician and Alexander Skarsgard ("Straw Dogs") as the group's guru.Roman Vasyanov (Ȯnd of Watch") does a great job with the camera work and the original score from Halli Cauthery ("Unstoppable" "Iron Man 3") and Harry GregsonWilliams (Ȭhicken Run" "Shrek") manages to supplement the plot without overwhelming it – something I look for in a good film.If the film has a weakness comparatively speaking it is with the direction. Some of the scenes could be milked for more tension and there is an over abundance of closeups. But these are relatively minor flaws in what is otherwise a very good film.