Sound and Fury...

Rating: 8/10 (18 February 2002)

Ridley Scott's "Black Hawk Down" is masterful technical work that depicts the cost of war, and the honor of the soldier, though it so full of sound and fury for the first hour that it blurs it's own message. Elite Ranger and Delta Force troops drop into Somalia on what is supposed to be a short mission to capture the two lieutenants of a warlord. Based on the book by Mark Bowden from the actual event in 1993, the screenplay by Ken Nolan and Steve Zallian is very confusing in the beginning, and it gets it's bearing toward the end of the movie. There is a large and talented cast with standout performances from Josh Hartnet as Staff Sgt. Matt Eversmann, Eric Bana as the warrior, Sgt. "Hoot", and Tom Sizemore as Lt. Col. Danny McKnight. Some of the confusion comes from having such a large ensemble cast-- some of the characters are indistinguishable, along with the intentional chaos on Director Scott's part as he depicts the initial mission going awry as Eversmann's men drop into Mogadeshu. The violence is realistic and uncompromising in the beginning, though it lacks the strong narrative style of "Saving Private Ryan".
What "Black Hawk Down" does well is make the viewer uncomfortable. In war the cost are the lives of young men. Bringing back everyone from battle is the highest tribute in the honor of the soldier. Eric Bana's "Hoot" says it all when he tells Harnet, "It's all about the guy next to you..." That is inspiring. "Black Hawk Down" gets it right in the end.