Eye Of The Needle
"Romantic. Stirring. An Extraordinary Achievement!" - Andrew Sarris, Village Voice
Donald Sutherland (Outbreak), and Kate Nelligan (Up Close & Personal), ignite the screen as ill-fated lovers in this exciting emotionally involving thriller (New York Magazine). Based on the best-selling novel by Ken Follett, this searing mystery is a roller coaster ride of suspense, centering on the relationship between a master spy and a brave woman - with the fate of the world hangin in the balance.
Englishmen know him as Faber, but to the Fatherland, he's the loyal and lethal spy known as "The Needle". On his way back to Germany, Faber is shipwrecked on an island outpost where he befriends Lucy, a beautiful Englishwoman who lives there with her family. Lonely and scorned by her bitter, crippled husband, Lucy falls for the enigmatic stranger, not knowing that he's a traitor determined to prevent the D-Day invasion. But as their passion erupts, Lucy discovers the brutal truth - as love and war melt into an electryfing climax of eroticism, adrenaline and terror!
Member Reviews
Gripping Story - Good Performances - PrinceofIdleness
I really love Donald Sutherland as a performer, which is why I rented this film. Sutherland doesn't disappoint - and the rest of the cast are also really solid. Another review on this site gets a bit hysterical about the Kate Nelligan character, for reasons that are likely best understood by the reviewer. Nelligan in fact brings a real understanding to her performance of a woman stuck in the middle of nowhere with an alcoholic depressed husband, a young only child (and there'll never be another) who meets an alluring stranger who, in the space of less than 24 hours transforms from her liberating lover to the monster who killed her husband, threatens her child and threatens her country. Anyone who can pull that off - and Nelligan does - deserves to star next to Donald Sutherland.Eye of the Needle - MovieLover5
I recall reading the book many years ago, and quite enjoying it. However, I'd say that while the film is easy to watch and moves along nicely, as is all too typical with movie adaptations, they skip over much of the background detail that provides insight into the various characters. You only superficially get to know who "the Needle" really is and what makes him tick. The same with the police inspector who spends the entire length of the movie chasing him. I'm not sure I even recall that character's name even though it's a significant role.
Regardless, if you enjoy a good WW2 yarn, this is still worth watching. Donald Sutherland is always interesting in these types of roles, and the supporting cast are well matched also.I have to disagree - LK--
with the other reviewer...
This movie was just insane! Yes, there was (predictable) tension and suspense and everyone you figured would get killed off does, but this woman... this woman is quite possibly the most annoying woman on the face of the earth. Toward the end we were actually feeling sorry for the spy and hoping he'd get away from the insane woman who was slowly killing him, bit by bloodied bit.
Perhaps I misread the label, perhaps it's actually a comedy. In that case, it's very, very funny, especially parts like when the woman is screaming, crying and wailing like a maniac as she's hacking off someone ELSE's fingers with an axe (don't want to give away too much).
And when she starts blasting away with a shotgun, not remotely hitting anything and screaming and crying hysterically, one has to chuckle. I mean, Helen Keller could've done a better job.
Even if it is a comedy, we still wanted to grab her by the shoulders, give her a shake and say "Snap out of it!!"
She gives women a bad name, and promotes the notion that a woman can't fight her way out of a wet paper bag. If there's an exact opposite to Samantha Carter from Stargate SG-1, or G.I.Jane, Kate Nelligan's character is IT!
Donald Sutherland's character was interesting and you could see his motivation for doing many things he did in the movie, but Kate Nelligan's character just blasted off in all directions and there seems to be no reason for anything she does, aside from the fact she seems insane.
We especially took exception to the part where she drugs her own kid with several times the adult dosage of sleeping pills/barbituates. There's no accident, she doesn't accidentally give them to her kid instead of the spy, she does it on purpose, and we were figuring she'd killed the poor kid until he finally makes an appearance toward the end.
Member Reviews
Read All...
Gripping Story - Good Performances - PrinceofIdleness
I really love Donald Sutherland as a performer, which is why I rented this film. Sutherland doesn't disappoint - and the rest of the cast are also really solid. Another review on this site gets a bit hysterical about the Kate Nelligan character, for reasons ...Eye of the Needle - MovieLover5
I recall reading the book many years ago, and quite enjoying it. However, I'd say that while the film is easy to watch and moves along nicely, as is all too typical with movie adaptations, they skip over much of the background detail that provides insight ...I have to disagree - LK--
with the other reviewer...
This movie was just insane! Yes, there was (predictable) tension and suspense and everyone you figured would get killed off does, but this woman... this woman is quite possibly the most annoying woman on the face of the earth. ...