The subject matter overcomes some questionable casting to provide a moving piece of film-making.

Rating: Null/10 (9 August 2007)

An unsung, but emotionally stirring, chapter of WWII is given a thoughtful, almost epic treatment in this reverent film, based on a true story. Following a defeat at Bataan, over 500 POW's are being held in a desolate, oppressive prison camp in The Philippines. When it becomes clear that Japan is losing the area, prisoners at other locations are being slaughtered and so Bratt and Franco team up to go in with their men and rescue their fellow soldiers, even though they are far outnumbered by Japanese forces in the area. Inside the camp, Fiennes is dwindling away from malaria while the woman he pines for, Nielson, is helping to run a resistance movement and is continuously smuggling quinine and other goods to him and his men. The title event is depicted with meticulous attention to strategy and with mostly realistic effects, with the film's credits capping everything off by featuring actual newsreel footage of the participants. Bratt may not be the first choice one thinks of for a film of this nature, though he does bear a passing resemblance to his real-life counterpart. He gives a solid performance though it is a touch overstated at times. On the opposite end is Franco who underplays to the point of stoicism and whose monotone voice suggests an almost total disinterest in the proceedings, whether he intended it or not. Bette Davis said, "Always let them catch you acting just a little", but there's no evidence of that in Franco's somnambulant performance. (He brings to mind an earlier flash in the pan whose acting was uneven at best, Christopher Jones.) Fiennes suffers adeptly, having lost weight from his already slender frame for the part. Nielson does quite well if one can overlook the fact that, through any and all tragedy and torment, she never does without her crimson lipstick and camera-ready, deliberately-tousled hair! Unintentional amusement also comes from seeing her try to blend in with the Filipinos who are all about a head shorter than she is. The film is a tiny bit long, but it does have three concurrent story threads to tell. Any sluggishness in the middle is forgiven by the time of the exciting finale and the heart-tugging dénouement, accented by the terrific vintage footage. Some nice music helps to set the tone in many sequences as well. Consuelos does reasonably well in a bit part and Broadway actor Montalban has a small role as a fellow soldier. This very respectful movie, on a subject well worth spotlighting, was the victim of a power shake-up at Miramax and was shelved for nearly three years before finally being released without fanfare.