Probably the best 'war' movie

Rating: 10/10 (9 December 2003)

Black Hawk Down just tries to be honest about the 1992 experience in Mogadishu, and does not make claims over and above the events. Rarely is a 'war movie' not about someone's notion of patriotism, or pacifism, or peace, Shakespeare, ethics, morality . . . The audience gains dignity by witnessing events without being spoon-fed something 'more.' The soldiers gain dignity without having something 'more' deemed necessary over them for a worthwhile movie. This might be the best war movie for those who appreciate an honest approach to an event as terrible as war, and, because of its seriousness, to be allowed to form their own judgements. There are great actors in the movie too. They give great performances, and as such they don't . . . stand out. I remember that the New Yorker called their performances, "selfless." People who think it was an ordinary war movie have perhaps so little an idea (based on having no interest) of the realities of today's army that they just don't know when they're being shown something false, and when they're seeing something pretty genuine. I figure that's the case.