Marvelous Portrayal Of This Moment In History

Rating: 8/10 (23 January 2002)

Ridley Scott has done what so few have. He has made a realistic, true reenactment of war. There is no beating around the bush with this movie. I would breathe the cliched line from the pundit's guide to great movie reviews, and call it "a roller coaster ride", but underneath the thrills, there is nothing innocent and joyful about "Black Hawk Down". In my mind, all other war movies of this caliber will forever be compared to Oliver Stone's "Platoon", the first successful attempt to get the audience down in the trenches with the director and the cast. Scott's vision, which is based on Mark Bowden's novel, tries, for lack of better phrasing, to make as much sense of the confusion as possible. The audience is fairly aware of what's going on at any given moment, but that is to his credit. It's part of the effect, as well it should be. Why should we, the audience, be more oriented with the geographic details then the soldiers have under heavy fire, pain, and stress. Quick editing and cinematography drained of bright colors, gives this movie an ominous feeling of constant awareness. Whenever the action has ceased, we still feel threatened, and the territory is as unfamiliar as ever. This attack on the senses is what makes "Black Hawk Down" so powerful.