Wet Willis' for Everyone!

Rating: 4/10 (7 March 2007)

Welcome to a new style of reviews. For those of you who have been following my career, my comments on the films that I have seen have been lengthy, verbose, and at times, just plain boring. Today marks a day of change. I am finding myself with less time, energy, and dedication to the cause, so I am changing. Perhaps I will fall to the wayside, or pick up new fans  but for me, it is still all about the cinema.
War, really people, what is it good for? Apparently, to those involved with the creation of the film "Hart's War", absolutely nothing  do you need me to say it again? To be short and sweet, pretty-boy Farrell gets caught by Nazi's, tells a dirty secret, and somehow gets put in the posh-of-the-posh POW containment camps this side of Germany. No brutality, no murder, no starvation  just simple catered meals and a freedom like no other. Willis plays a Colonel that somehow was captured and has named this base as his "luxury" suite. He is best friends with the Nazi commander, while all the time planning the big escape.
Did I hint towards "The Great Escape"  please don't think the same thoughts with this film. What makes "Hart's War" a bit more random than you typical war film is that the bigotry, hatred, and racism comes from not the Nazis, but the American soldiers. It comes in the form of Terrance Howard. One time racism turns its dirty head, people look the other way  but the second time, it takes us into a melodramatic, off-the-beaten-path courtroom drama that can be viewed in an assortment of regular films. It sparks nothing new, nor anything of interest. Continually, we wait for Howard, or Willis, to shout that cult-like phrase, "You can't handle the truth", and it nearly happens, when Willis reveals his wild card and changes the course of the war forever.
How bland.
"Hart's War" fails because it involves too many elements and not enough time, or maybe, too many elements and too long of time. Instead of sticking with a war story, we are bludgeoned with another story of racism, another story of respect, another story of lies, and jumbled between it all a story about escape. It is too much for one film to handle, and as our characters become less and less dimensional, as does the film. Willis is Willis. If you have seen any of his work this decade, you have seen his character in this film. Farrell remains shaved and pretty-boy throughout the film, continually denouncing the authenticity, which was already faulted by the fact that it seemed like nobody was against anyone in this camp. I think that is what struck me as odd, the layout of the camp. Why were the Russians treated worse than the Americans? Did they not have a Bruce Willis of their own?
Questions upon questions continue to pile until we think we have had enough then another world opens in the final act giving us another reason to yell, "oh brother!". The ending lacks consistency, as we are left with no resolutions, no finale, and no moment of Zen. It is perfect for you Willis nay-slayers out there, but for the rest of us, we are left with a symbolic ending that will bring a tear to the women, and the rest of us demanding our money back.
This film contained very little action, very little suspense, and very little answers to bigger underlining questions. It was a hastily put together film that boasted big names, but bigger downfalls. For two hours I was plummeted into everything Hollywood could think of to throw into a film. While I believe it had potential, what happened in the end is that the director could not control the momentum. This is strange, because I loved "Fallen" so very much. "Hart's War" did start strong, in my eyes, with some decent cinematography (I enjoyed the opening snow scene), but fell of the face of the Earth by the end of the first hour.
So, again my friends, I must ask  what is war good for? To my reply  absolutely nothing.
I cannot suggest this film to friends or family. Poor acting, too many plot points, and an unresolved ending makes me give "Hart's War" a
(wait for it )
BLAH!