Realistic, shocking and highly commendable

Rating: Null/10 (28 February 2002)

When I first heard that Ridley Scott and Jerry Bruckheimer were teaming up to make an American war movie together, I must confess, I cringed. Sure, Bruckheimer's past efforts were laughable, unchallenging pieces of eye candy, so it would not be unheard of him making a war movie. "Pearl Harbour" is evidence enough of that. But Ridley Scott's films hold a special place in my heart. "Alien" is a favourite, as is "Blade Runner" and I was even slightly stirred by "G.I. Jane", not for its Demi Moore showboating but its style. Scott's movies have often been so exquisitely stylish they border on mouth-watering. But a Bruckheimer / Scott produced, Scott directed WAR movie?
Still, given the visual treats Scott has offered audiences in his more recent films ("Gladiator" and "Hannibal"), "Black Hawk Down" was to be no exception. And it isn't. This is a film so visceral it begs the question of the audience: "Am I actually in this war scene?!" Only seeing famous faces like Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor and Tom Sizemore can bring the audience back down to reality. That only happens when there is an all but brief delay in the chaos of combat.
The premise for this film is based on true events. Taken from the non-fiction book of the same name, "Black Hawk Down" is the account of three platoons of US forces in Somalia during late 1993. On one October day, US officials, in all their wisdom, decide to capture Somali warlord General Mohammed Farrah Aidid's two senior lieutenants. Sending in elite Delta Force, Ranger and SOPR troops to capture the two men, the Americans run into stiff resistance as their helicopters are shot down. What was to be an abduction turns into a desperate rescue mission.
The film opens with a brief history of the US involvement in Somalia accompanied by some colour de-saturated shots of the famine and horror of the situation. While it may seem overblown initially, as the film moves on you really do realise that this is what it was like for the people of Somalia: pure hell. The streets are littered with dead bodies, the buildings destroyed and the sheer hellishness of the place can turn even the most stout of all stomachs. You have to pinch yourself and understand that this really did happen.
With the historical background behind us in the first twenty minutes, a number of key characters are introduced. Many of the players in the book (which was taken from the 29-part serialised Philadelphia Enquirer story by Mark Bowden) are omitted. Despite this there is a big character list, some of whom we forget or mistake for other characters. Huge cast aside, Josh Harnett plays Staff Sergeant Matt Eversman, a Ranger who has just been promoted to group leader. His crew consists of some familiar faces, including Ewan McGregor as desk-jockey turned combatant Specialist Danny Grimes. William Fichtner, who audiences will recognise from "Contact", "Go" and "The Perfect Storm", plays Sergeant First Class Jeff Sanderson. He is the group leader of the ultra-elite Delta Force, which includes Aussie "Chopper" star Eric Bana as the Rambo-like Sergeant First Class Norm Hooten. Tom Sizemore plays Colonel Danny McKnight and leads the Humvee-driving SOPR team. Sam Shepard plays General William Garrison, who envisioned the mission. It's a big roll call, and I haven't included many other names and faces that you will recognise.
Such is the pace of "Black Hawk Down" that you lose time. The film is brilliantly edited, with quick cuts, slow-mo, fades, dissolves and colour filters used frequently. Scott delves deep into his bag of cinematic tricks to keep you pinned down or on the edge of your seat. The quality of sound is spectacular with roaring gunfire dispersed with screams of pain. Not an easy ride at all, but one you feel better for witnessing at the film's conclusion. There are many similarities to other notable war movies including "Apocalypse Now" and "Saving Private Ryan", but "Black Hawk Down" is nowhere near as trippy as the former or gory as the latter. Sure, it is violent and may not suit all tastes, but the violence is necessary as it simply reinforces the mental and physical torture of war.
There is little room for character development or introspection, and despite its display of American military muscle, this is definitely an anti-war film. Kudos must go to Bruckheimer, who has broken the mould here from his other films. He even managed to borrow real Black Hawk helicopters from the US Army and convinced the President of Morocco to allow the film to be shot in its city streets. Perhaps we can expect more high-budget, high-quality films from him in the future?
As the opening titles of the film reads from Plato, 'Only the dead have seen the end of war', by films end we agree with that sentiment. The final images of the film reinforce how desperate many of the world's hotspots are, and also, how easy and luxurious our own lives are. Post September 11 "Black Hawk Down" may actually lose some of its impact regarding the use of American troops in foreign conflicts, but it is more so a timely reminder that war, no matter who is involved, is hell.