Eye of the Needle

Director Richard Marquand and all the crew involved brought us a memorable film that keeps us on the edge of our seat from the beginning to the very last minute. The story follows a Nazi spy named Henry Faber (an extremely vicious Donald Sutherland), also known by his code name "The Needle", who is on to an important information about the Allies invasion plan to Europe during WW2 and might cause a disaster if he gets with that information to Berlin. Kate Nelligan gives a perfect performance as the naive Lucy who gets involved with the dangerous Henry Faber. Adopted from Ken Follet's novel, The film successfully keeps the tension on high level in just about every scene. The film is shot in a remarkably beautiful locations in Europe and really captures the alienated atmosphere during WW2. All in all this is a perfect film that shouldn't be missed by anyone who is looking for a powerful and memorable experience. This one is highly recommended 10/10.

Eye Of The Needle is one of those films that I saw when I was a wee lad, which I watched again recently, to find out I enjoyed it as much as the first time (which rarely happens). Donald Sutherland plays the Needle, a German top spy who has a nasty habit with a knife. After taking pictures of a supposed American military base to spoil the chances of an American blitz, his plans are temporarily diverted when the boat he steals while getting away from those dang Allied forces, washes away on a beach, where Kate Nelligan and her husband lives. But they don't know his secret, and Sutherland must somehow make contact with a German U-Boat before Time Runs Out!! Everyone is wonderful in this. The plot sort of reminds me of I know Where I'm Going! mixed in with Breaking The Waves. Lots of twists and surprises to keep you going, A great popcorn movie!

I saw this film many years ago and have watched it more than once. The opportunity presented itself for me to see it again and it was just as good as I recalled it being.

This is probably the best performance of Donald Sutherland's career. You can argue for Invasion of the Body Snatchers, or Human Trafficking, or MASH, or even Space Cowboys, or many other great performances, but this is the film I will always remember him for.

As a German spy who has discovered the best kept secret regarding the Allied invasion on DDay, he had to be prevented from getting home to report to Hitlar. It was just an accident that he was discovered. The suspense of his job and discovery were heart-pounding. Oscar nominated Kate Nelligan (The Prince of Tides) gave an outstanding performance as a neglected wife who accidentally uncovered Sutherland's identity.

Worth watch over and over.

This film about a German agent trying to escape from Britain might seem to offer limited scope for interest, but Sutherland's menacing performance and the events on the island turn it into something approaching a study in psychopathy, laden with uncertainty and fear. The vulnerability of Lucy (Kate Nelligan, a sensitive and intelligent but definitely pre-feminist woman helps to give the film an added poignancy. Sutherland's performance is such that we are always fascinated by the damaged and ruthless character he portrays. Those who dislike war films may find themselves surprised by this film.

Eye of the Needle is an oddly structured but nonetheless extremely effective film which in many ways is quite old fashioned in tone and feel,with the addition of a little 'modern'sex and violence. For almost the first half,the film is a fairly conventional but quite gripping spy thriller,as a German agent causes havoc in World War 2 England. There are few surprises,but Donald Sutherland is mesmerising to watch {even if his accent wavers} and the plot at least sounds almost plausible. The keen eyed,however,may spot mistakes in the period detail.

Then Sutherland is washed up on a Scottish island inhabited by a crippled man and his frustrated wife,and the film changes into an incredibly tense mixture of romance and thrills. Sutherland and Nelligan's affair may be basically sexual,but there is real chemistry between them and a real sense of desperation,of two lonely people throwing themselves together. The last half hour is real edge-of-the-seat stuff,perhaps almost bordering on psycho-thriller,but it really works.

Throughout the film Sutherland remains the villain and does do some nasty things,but it's a measure of his performance that occasionally we do come close to sympathising with him. Acting-wise though the film really belongs to Nelligan,a tragically underused and beautiful actress who has to go through the motions of loneliness and frustration,than lust,then fear,and eventually heroism,and does so superbly.

Aided tremendously by the last ever score from the legendary film composer Miklos Rozsa,who provides a moving love theme and some especially thrilling music for the last section of the film,Eye of the Needle perhaps shouldn't really work as well at it does,but that's a measure of it's quality.