| Product: |
Behind Enemy Lines (DVD) |
| Date: |
05/07/02 (262 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Fast pasted combat action
Disadvantages: More fiction than fact
Conflicts can often create opportunities for filmmakers to do their thing. Behind enemy lines is based on an incident that occurred in the Bosnian conflict. Using some artistic license, this film tells the story of a pilot navigator who is shot down with his pilot and forced to find his way home.
Cast/Characters
***************
Owen Wilson - Chris Burnett
Gene Hackman - Lesley Riegart
Gabriel Macht - Stackhouse
Charles Malik Whitfield - Rodway
Joaquim de Almeida - Piquet
David Keith - O'Malley
Olek Krupa - Lokar
Vladimir Mashkov - Tracker
Chris Burnett is bored with flying the routine missions over War torn Bosnia. Life can be meaningless for a navy fighter plane navigator when all you do is fly the same pointless missions every day. Feeling his time is being wasted, Chris hands in his resignation, much to the disgust of his commanding officer, Lesley Riegart. Reigart believes that his men should tolerate the boredom and that every mission is important.
Reigart takes Burnett's resignation personally and uses the young navy mans' notice period to assign Burnett and his pilot, Stackhouse the Christmas mission. This adds to Burnett's frustration and he decides to veer off course to try and find something more interesting to look at, despite being told to stick to the routine. This action takes the two men on a flight path over a group of soldiers on the ground who should not be there. The men on the ground try to hide their position, the result, they shoot down the navy pilots.
Burnett and Stackhouse manage to eject out of their plane at the last minute and parachute to the ground. Attempting to contact mission control, Burnett realises he must get to higher ground to send and receive radio transmissions. So he sets off, leaving his injured friend and pilot, Stackhouse. Soon Burnett is to witness to a horrific act of violence, which sees him run
ning for his life.
Back at mission control, Reigart desperately sets about arranging a rescue mission. But it's not that easy. There are political issues to consider. Perhaps through duty, perhaps through guilt, Reigart breaks all the rules to try and get Burnett home. I will say no more to enable people to watch this film for themselves!
Performances
*************
Probably best known for portraying Hansel McDonald in Zoolander, Owen Wilson has been around for a few years now. He gives a fine performance in this film. Choosing subtlety over overacting. You can empathise with Burnetts situation, feeling particularly vulnerable surrounded by the enemy. Still can't get over the strange nose though, it's weird!
Gene Hackman, typecast as the grumpy officer once more gives a usual top class performance. But I would like to see him play someone a bit less moody! Of course he play Reigart superbly as you would expect, but Reigart is a character like so many other similar roles he has played. So no surprises here but Mr Hackman, how about playing somebody more likeable please, pretty please with a cherry on top!
As for the supporting cast, well they all do their jobs and they do them well. The most notable performance from the minor players is that of the tracker, Vladimir Mashkov. Resembling a Gabriel Byrne lookalike having a really bad day. He is a cold blooded killer showing no emotion or humanity as he tirelessly tracks his prey.
Director
********
Directed by John Moore, making his film directorial debute. This film is slick. Having only ever directed advertisements before, it does make you wonder just how much talent may be wasting away making those more often than not, irritating space fillers on television. Clever camera angles and a nice use of slowed down shots, he has turned this film in to a gripping experience. There are some silly moments in the f
ilm, mostly in connection with the actions of the hero. But you can forgive him for this and after all, how would someone react in that situation? Faultlessly? Probably not! Watch out for more movies by this man, he is definitely a director worth looking out for!
Overall View
************
Loosely based on a real life incident involving a Lieutenant Scott O'Grady, this is a fine film. The action is quite intense once it really gets going, if perhaps a little slow at the beginning. The actors performances are top notch allowing you to immerse yourself in to the action. Yes, a lot of artistic license has been used, but to great effect. Scenes to particularly watch out for with regardes to the action sequences are the mine field and a tank making an entrance. I wasn't sure about this film at first, it was not one that jumped out of the video shelves at me. But having seen it, I would recommend it thoroughly!
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Summary:
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Last comment:
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nursingstudent - 17/07/02 Incredible film, had me on the edge of my seat all the way through (which was very difficult seeing as I watched it on an aeroplane!) |
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