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Review #77: Black Hawk Down.
What I described as 'boring' a few weeks back, has eventually made it's mark on me. Like with The Thin Red Line, I think I was too young when I first watched back in 2001.
The movie revolves around The Battle Of Mogadishu and the American attempt at catching Somali Warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
After a successful beginning to the mission, a Black Hawk helicopter is shot down by the enemy and surrounded.
After that, the entire mission becomes one giant cluster-f**k and another Black Hawk helicopter is downed by the enemy forces. The American and allied troops who are stranded deep behind enemy lines are either injured, captured or killed in what is quickly becoming a futile attempt to survive and escape.
It really is one gritty and hard hitting movie. What makes it more gritty is the shooting style, it's incredibly realistic. There's no massive Hollywood silliness with the action scenes.
The effects though are hugely impressive.
Though relatively held back to the eye, they're very real looking and, because of this, they're very effective.
The ensemble cast are another exceptional piece of filmmaking.
Josh Hartnett, Ewen MacGregor, Tom Sizemore, Ewen Bremner, Ioan Gruffudd, Jason Isaacs, Brian Van Holt, Ian Virgo, Tom Hardy, Orlando Bloom, Eric Bana, William Fichtner, Kim Coates, Ron Eldard and Sam Shepard are just a small part of the brilliant acting involved throughout.
The other thing that makes the film stand out, is the movie flits between the warzone and the troops at the base who haven't gone out on the mission.
The reaction of the soldiers at the base when they realise what’s happened to their friends is brilliantly executed and the camaraderie between all of the soldiers is very, very real.
All in all it's up there with the best of the modern war movies and was deservedly nominated for 18 awards, winning 3 of them.
My rating 95%
What I described as 'boring' a few weeks back, has eventually made it's mark on me. Like with The Thin Red Line, I think I was too young when I first watched back in 2001.
The movie revolves around The Battle Of Mogadishu and the American attempt at catching Somali Warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
After a successful beginning to the mission, a Black Hawk helicopter is shot down by the enemy and surrounded.
After that, the entire mission becomes one giant cluster-f**k and another Black Hawk helicopter is downed by the enemy forces. The American and allied troops who are stranded deep behind enemy lines are either injured, captured or killed in what is quickly becoming a futile attempt to survive and escape.
It really is one gritty and hard hitting movie. What makes it more gritty is the shooting style, it's incredibly realistic. There's no massive Hollywood silliness with the action scenes.
The effects though are hugely impressive.
Though relatively held back to the eye, they're very real looking and, because of this, they're very effective.
The ensemble cast are another exceptional piece of filmmaking.
Josh Hartnett, Ewen MacGregor, Tom Sizemore, Ewen Bremner, Ioan Gruffudd, Jason Isaacs, Brian Van Holt, Ian Virgo, Tom Hardy, Orlando Bloom, Eric Bana, William Fichtner, Kim Coates, Ron Eldard and Sam Shepard are just a small part of the brilliant acting involved throughout.
The other thing that makes the film stand out, is the movie flits between the warzone and the troops at the base who haven't gone out on the mission.
The reaction of the soldiers at the base when they realise what’s happened to their friends is brilliantly executed and the camaraderie between all of the soldiers is very, very real.
All in all it's up there with the best of the modern war movies and was deservedly nominated for 18 awards, winning 3 of them.
My rating 95%
