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Amazon.com Essential Video
Eye of the Needle is a superbly effective World War II spy thriller from the Ken Follett bestseller of the same name. Donald Sutherland is "the Needle," a German spy in England bearing critical information on Allied invasion plans that he must deliver personally to the Führer. He's so named because of his preferred method of assassination, the stiletto. As played by Sutherland, he's a coldly calculating psychopath, emotionlessly focused on the task at hand, whether the task is to signal a U-boat or to gut a witness to avoid exposure. On his way back to Germany, a fierce storm strands him on an island, occupied only by a woman (Kate Nelligan), her disabled husband, and the lighthouse keeper. A romance of sorts develops between the woman and the spy, due to an estrangement of affections between the woman and her husband, whose accident has rendered him emotionally crippled as well. Much of the suspense of the latter half of the movie has to do with this romance, and the way it begins to reveal the Needle's motivations and whether there's a sympathetic personality buried somewhere inside him, though he remains by-and-large tantalizingly enigmatic. Early on, we discover that he may not enjoy the hand life has dealt him. When a courier asks him about the way he lives, and "What else can one do?" the Needle answers, "One can just stop." But as the film makes amply clear in its final third, one doesn't stop, does one? The direction by Richard Marquand (known primarily for thrillers such as this one and Jagged Edge, although he also did Return of the Jedi) is crisply done, boasting numerous suspenseful episodes, including a deadly encounter between Sutherland and the disabled husband, which is jaw-droppingly surprising. --Jim Gay
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Well-made spy thriller,
By
This review is from: Eye of the Needle (Widescreen) (DVD)
The year is 1944, and a German spy (code-name: "the Needle") has photos that could damage the Allies' plans for D-Day. While trying to get the photos to a U-boat, he is shipwrecked on a remote island off the coast of Scotland, which is home to a disabled man, his lonely wife, and their child.This movie is very intense and scary, thanks to Donald Sutherland who plays the Needle, a cold and calculating killer who racks up quite a body count. He's convincing even though his British accent isn't. Kate Nelligan costars as the needy wife who rescues him and quickly falls for him. Her British accent is quite good and she is excellent in the part. The rain-soaked island with waves crashing on its cliffs is picturesque at times and also very claustrophobic and creepy at the end. Miklos Rosza's ("Ben-Hur") chilling score adds to the excitement. The last half hour had me on the edge of my seat. Recommended for those who like WWII thrillers. With violence and nudity.
4.0 out of 5 stars
HURRICANE ON STORM ISLAND,
By J J BAGS (MASSACHUSETTS USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Eye of the Needle (Widescreen) (DVD)
Early 1980's hit has apparently disappeared. Sutherland plays a World war 2 German spy who comes upon the landing plans for D-Day, As "the eye", all he need do is to be picked up by a German u- boat. Sutherland speaks perfect English and German, and has left a bloody trail around Britain for 4 plus years.Now, he's at it again, commiting 2 more murders, repeatedly seducing a vulnerable woman, all in the name of relaying war instructions from Storm Island to Germany.The finale is unforgettable, a stark movie ending in a fitting fashion. Well cast backup players, most unknown in the USA, play their roles expertly, and Sutherland is Sutherland, the viewer either appreciates his work or doesn't. The background musis, when used at all, is apt, and the photography is vintage British Isles. Pick up a copy for entertainment and/or a good collector's item.
4.0 out of 5 stars
well written WWW2 era love story with well written characters (3.5/5),
By
This review is from: Eye of the Needle (Widescreen) (DVD)
for a WW2 story from 1981,this one is pretty good.it does move slow attimes though.it is also pretty low key for this kind of film.this movie is much more character driven and relies on its two main players to really carry the film,and that they do.Donald Sutherland plays a German spy with ice in his veins who has no problem with murder when it suits his needs.so really he is also an assassin of sorts.he's sort of a Carlos the Jackal type character who may have been a real assassin who was a chameleon and who eluded authorities and was never captured or possibly even seen.anyway back to the movie.Kate Nelligan plays the love interest(and more than that) and does well in the role.Christopher Cazenov plays David,Lucy's(Kate Nelligan) husband in a very strong supporting performance. the movie has its share of suspense and action,but again it's low key i found the writing quite good.it's based on a novel by Ken Follett.one thing that stood out in this movie is its subtlety.there's no over the top rah rah rah attitude that's evident in many later movies.but then this is a German/English production and not an American made movie.the point is,it's refreshing to see a well written story with well written characters that doesn't bombard your senses with sentimentality and inspirational pap.i liked this movie quite a bit.i give "Eye of the Needle" a 3.5/5
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