The East

Name: The East
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: May 31, 2013
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Aldis Hodge, Alexander Skarsgård, Brit Marling, Danielle Macdonald, Elliot Page

2013

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Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 133 Ratings

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 133 Ratings

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The East

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: May 31, 2013 | PG-13

Starring: Aldis Hodge, Alexander Skarsgård, Brit Marling, Danielle Macdonald, Elliot Page, Hillary Baack, Jason Ritter, Julia Ormond, Patricia Clarkson, Shiloh Fernandez, Toby Kebbell

Summary: An elite private intelligence firm contracts ex-FBI agent Sarah Moss to infiltrate a mysterious anarchist collective, The East, suspected to be responsible for attacking major corporations. Sarah goes undercover, but as she gets closer to the action and the organization's leader, her commitment to her task begins to waver.

Director: Zal Batmanglij

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 116 min

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Critic Reviews

Steve Persall

Jun 19, 2013

The East is a crackling thriller and a political statement tough to peg. Read full review

Film.com Jordan Hoffman

Apr 29, 2013

This is a movie that proposes a genuine, intelligent solution, both for the main character and for us. It comes at you kinda quickly (and economically, in about three wordless shots), but it hit me like a bag of dumpster-dived apples to the gut. Read full review

David Edelstein

Jun 3, 2013

The magnetic Alexander Skarsgard is the leader, Benji, a soft-spoken dreamboat, ever-direct but with a haunted quality, with something in reserve. Ellen Page gives a Lili Taylor–worthy performance (high praise) as a suspicious, abrasive young woman. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Apr 26, 2013

As slickly paced as a big-studio espionage movie, it nearly succeeds as a pure adrenaline-rush thriller. In the end, the problem isn't that there's too much plot, but rather a certain dramatic illogic. Read full review

A.O. Scott

May 30, 2013

It may be asking too much of The East — which is, after all, a twisty, breathless genre film — to wish that it would frame the contradictions of contemporary capitalism more rigorously. The movie is aware that they exist, and wishes that they could be resolved more or less happily, which is hard to argue with, though also hard to believe. Read full review

The Telegraph Tim Robey

Jul 3, 2013

Come the final act, the best political thrillers don't play nice, after all – they twist the knife. This one’s so concerned with making the world a better place, it retracts the blade and wipes it clean Read full review

Kyle Smith

May 30, 2013

Let’s say you wanted to have another go at “Red Dawn” but you think more like Redford. Voilà: You’d have The East, a cockamamie valentine to eco-terrorism. Read full review

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User Reviews

FloxieHope

Jun 25, 2013

What I like best about movies that highlight corporate greed and revenge for the little guy is that the ultimate message is, people matter. The health of their environment matters. Their health matters. Their children matter. And it's not okay for them to be treated as collateral damageWhat I like best about movies that highlight corporate greed and revenge for the little guy is that the ultimate message is, people matter. The health of their environment matters. Their health matters. Their children matter. And it's not okay for them to be treated as collateral damage by corporate money-mongers.

Such is true in real life.

On a personal level, what I most appreciated about The East was that it accurately depicted the horrors of a real class of prescription antibiotics, fluoroquinolones. (Per Brit Marling in a Huffington Post interview, they modeled the horrors of the pharmaceutical industry in the film after the real horrors of fluoroquinolone toxicity.) The fictionalized Diaoxin (or something like that) that causes central nervous system damage, tendon rupture, seizures, rash, tremors, etc. is based on real reactions to real drugs, antibiotics that go by the names Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox and Larium. As The East depicted, the effects of these drugs can be devastating. The East also illustrated that onset of adverse symptoms can be delayed, leading to people not identifying the drugs as the culprit in their ill health, the fact that a lawsuit is impossible, or at least difficult, because the side-effects are listed on the package insert, that these drugs are being given to our armed forces in massive quantities, that these drugs are toted as a miracle cure for anthrax, that these drugs are commonly used in Africa (and other places in the world where malaria is common) to treat traveler’s diarrhea and malaria, etc. Really, they did an awesome job at portraying as complete a picture as possible of fluoroquinolones and their toxicity. I know, it sounds unbelievable, as if I'm basing my assessment of reality on the movie. In reality, the movie was based on true stories of fluoroquinolone toxicity. Please look at The Fluoroquinolone Wall of Pain on Facebook for stories of illness and my blog, www.floxiehope.com, for stories of hope and healing.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ricksroses

Jun 27, 2013

I have to say that this is a very good movie.... I find the acting superb the story line also very good and for this type of suspenseful drama it was beyond antiquate to keep my attention and interest for the entire movie. it provides a lot of fascinating looks at the way we live and howI have to say that this is a very good movie.... I find the acting superb the story line also very good and for this type of suspenseful drama it was beyond antiquate to keep my attention and interest for the entire movie. it provides a lot of fascinating looks at the way we live and how society reacts and acts about some difficult questions that need some answers in regards to our respect of our planet and the people who inhabit it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Flipje

May 26, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. While I would agree with some critics who regard the ending as weak, I loved 95% of this film. I have watched it several times and enjoy the engagement between the characters. Brit Marling, especially, has a presence on screen, a balance between her classic beauty with something raw and genuine in her delivery. I have not been a fan of her other work (Another Earth, Sound of My Voice) yet she is captivating here as Jane, a corporate security specialist going undercover in the world of drop-outs and railroad bums, mainly hoping to hone in on her mark, the eco-terrorist group, The East. What she initially encounters is a hippie fest of supposed high morals, individuals oozing disdain for the laissez-faire and wasteful habits of modern society. The group's unofficial leader, Benji (Skarsgard) initially comes off as guru, a sensitive but sturdy soul preaching of man's inhumanity to nature. Alongside him is Izzy (Page), acerbic and distrusting of others and civilization, Doc (Kebbel), a medical student that never graduated and other characters on the scattered fringes, all bound by their desire to pay back those who never paid for their eco-crimes. Yet just as we and Jane become somewhat endeared to the mantras and philosophies, these 'jams' (eco-terror missions) carried out by the group bring with them a moral price tag and for Jane, an emotional weight. This in itself opens up interesting questions and dilemmas. If the corporate CEOs that contribute to the destruction of nature and human life are untouchable, what retribution would indeed be justified? And those meting out punishment, are they no better than their victims? Who then is capable of being judge and executioner? Benji appears all-too-willing to accomplish his jams, even if means sacrificing certain people to accomplish his goals. Meanwhile, as Jane gets to know him and his crew, she opens up, becomes vulnerable and begins to question not only her own corporate identity but that of the group she is investigating. As for the ending, the suggestion that she, now awakened to the complexities of the world, hopes to inform fellow corporate undercover officers of the corruption, this is naive. It is hopeful, yes, providing a feeling of closure that might suggest change is coming. Overall, the film has no longueurs. Patricia Clarkson is solid as Jane's icily pragmatic corporate boss and for me, the story leaves a thoughtful mark.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

hoops2448

Sep 11, 2013

Recently co-writer and lead actress Brit Marling starred in a similarly themed film, Sound of My Voice,a film also about a mysterious organization but these two films couldn't be more different with The East being a logical and compelling piece of cinema. When Jane (Brit Marling) is sent inRecently co-writer and lead actress Brit Marling starred in a similarly themed film, Sound of My Voice,a film also about a mysterious organization but these two films couldn't be more different with The East being a logical and compelling piece of cinema. When Jane (Brit Marling) is sent in undercover to assess a fundamentalist group called The East, a group led by Benji (Alexander Skarsgard) and Izzy (Ellen Page) she starts to understand their cause as the company she works for begins to twist the truth until she doesn't know who to trust. The only flaw with The East is it really isn't as clever as it thinks it is, it uses cliched twists to convey key plot points and lacks the subtlety and strength of its conviction to pull its twists off. The end is almost ruined by a twist so half arsed it really deserves mocking but by doing so I may ruin it for the few who might not catch it. The filming is splendid with every shot feeling grey as the film blurs the lines between black and white as Jane loses herself in a web of deceit, a web so complex that be the end I had forgotten her real name. Filled with some excellent performances, Marling proves her worth as an actor after disappointing turns in her own projects such as Another Earth and the previously mentioned Sound of My Voice. Skarsgard is the best of the bunch as he is completely fearless in his depiction of this utterly lost soul. The film begs the viewer to pick a side before the end but the finale makes that strive for agreement pointless as the film ends on its own terms. Most of the political ideas on display are half baked at best and it really shows with the conclusion feeling like a safe way to bring this story to a close, although I have to say I did get a little bit of satisfaction with the neat and tidy nature of the ending, something this story really doesn't deserve. While interesting and well performed it finds itself let down by a lack of thought going into what the writers really wanted to say.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

EludiumQ36

Nov 17, 2013

Cautionary tale of the consequences of getting too close to a cause you're to undermine or subvert. In this case, the protagonist (Sarah) flips from "establishment" to counter-culture but is intent on pursuing their aims non-violently, contrary to the group's MO. Could also be seen asCautionary tale of the consequences of getting too close to a cause you're to undermine or subvert. In this case, the protagonist (Sarah) flips from "establishment" to counter-culture but is intent on pursuing their aims non-violently, contrary to the group's MO. Could also be seen as another tale of how one person can make a difference.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bm2759

Jul 17, 2013

The trailer presented this film as thriller focused on eco-terrorism. Unfortunately it delves into a drama leaving anything engaging about a thriller in the foyer. Leaving the cinema I felt disappointed and glad to have a cineworld membership in the UK. Paying for this would have beenThe trailer presented this film as thriller focused on eco-terrorism. Unfortunately it delves into a drama leaving anything engaging about a thriller in the foyer. Leaving the cinema I felt disappointed and glad to have a cineworld membership in the UK. Paying for this would have been upsetting given the cost of tickets today.

How often do we want the bad guys to succeed? Not often in my book but when up corporations they choice was easy. However a dull storyline, convoluted script and predictable outcomes hindering this film from being a memorable thriller. It's a shame because it had a very interesting and real concept, with a strong 20 to 30 mins opening phase.

After that I lost interest. The story unfolds slowly here onwards and focuses on the drama between characters, which can be a good thing if executed well. Unfortunately because none of the characters are worth caring about it becomes uninteresting and unengaging.

I did enjoy the eco-terrorism acts and wanted more of it. Use of the internet to spread their message was also quite realistic, along with the mystery behind organising them to ensure secrecy.

See this on DVD instead.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

crayven

Sep 5, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I really like movies that take on the corporate structure and by the trailer, you'd thins one does. And you wouldn't be disappointed if you are shallow and half only half a brain cell.
Jane's character is terrible, she lives with her effeminate boyfriend who seems more like a dog than a man. Then we move on to the rag-tag band of "revolutionaries" each with a grudge against the system. And for a while you sympathize with them until you notice the quirks. There are so many stereotypes in this movie it should be called "TV stereotypes the movie".
The hacker is fat, the doctor is a nerd with glasses wow original the leader is the macho guy who would have guessed one of them seems to motivate her action not by corporate malice but because she seems to want revenge against her dad dafuq.
And finally we hafve the super -secret agent Jane, who is so unlikeable it's not even funny anymore.
She is bland and acts well as a 'serious' character, but as a hobo, not even close. Characters seem to forget what happened to them 10 minutes ago and generally react totally un-natural to their environment like they are bad actors on a stage.
And finally the icing on the cake for this fiasco, the ending.

Watch the ending speech, in the Mercedes between the two she is making the same apology as people who claim Manning and Snowden should have shut up and kept quiet because "it exposes the system".
And then it hit me. This whole speech is PROPAGANDA.

And of course while the credits roll she is seen heroically reasoning with cold hardened hired professionals who what else are they known for if their affectionate side that corporations are bad and ...stuff.
Some might wonder is this "Jane" living in her own head? In reality most of these people know EXACTLY well what they defend and they just don't care as long as the pay check comes on the table.
They are like mercenaries with no morality or substance.
Just like this movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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