Assault on precinct Bakara

Rating: 10/10 (15 October 2002)

Brilliantly directed combat-movie that stirs up a lot of controversy despite(or because of)it´s unwillingness to commit itself to any kind of wider political or moral commentary.
First off...like in most of his films, this is essentially a movie about Ridley Scott´s filmmaking craft. The cinematography, the acting, the use of sound are all melded into a brilliant composition of complex flowing imagery. It really brings a tear to the eye of any true fan of his.
The story really isn´t about how glorious theAmericans are, or how evil the Somalis are. The movie is reasonably even-handed in that respect, regardless of how you might feel about the fact that we follow the viewpoint of the American troops. The tone of the movie is mostly just: "everyone does what they do".
The Somalis are p****d at the Americans for invading their turf and meddling with their affairs. And the soldiers just want to get out of it in one piece. The movie honours the soldiers for going through this ordeal and watching each others backs. Fair enough.
Like in many of his other films(Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, 1492, Gladiator and even Hannibal), the theme is of people striving under, and finding a form of redemption through severe physical or psychological distress.
We don´t get to know the characters deeply. Only glimpses of who they might be. Most of the drama is relayed through the reactions and choices made under fire. There are no real stereotypes here, and neither any heroic foreground-characters who might take over the story. After all, the real star is Scott´s direction.