In "Black Hawk Down," the lack of characterization converts the Somalis into a pack of snarling dark-skinned beasts, gleefully pulling the Americans from their downed aircraft and stripping them. Intended or not, it reeks of glumly staged racism.But this is what actually happened.
As I have yet to see the movie, I cannot pass judgment on the "rowdy guys", but I can on the reviewer. He was obviously left behind in Movie Reviewer High School.
I have to think his writing career began as government bureaucrat writing military specifications for Osprey purchase orders.
FReegards,
You can tell where the author is going when he throws in "jingoistic" in the FIRST SENTENCE!!! Then he seems fixated on coloring even while he decries the movies real depth and substance.
What exactly do blue hues tell us of the history and geo-political significance of this episode.
Then, of course, he denies the humanity of the blacks he would seek to defend by quickly giving them absolution from their own moral agency, while expressing dissapointment in the lack of character development of the (mostly white) American soldiers.
Typical leftie weenie writing a review for the quickly declining movie section of the nations largest gay-daily.
December 16, 2001... An extremely positive review for Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down has been sent to CA from an indivividual who read Mark Bowden's book. Our reviewer, codenamed "The Grit", says Scott's picture lives up to its promise and is an extremely faithful adaptation from the book.
Their review contains both SPOILER and non-spoiler sections. We have marked off the SPOILERS so you have to swipe the space with your cursor. "My buddy is on the AFI voting board and got me into a screening of Black Hawk Down in Santa Monica last week. We were told they were still finishing some effects and the temp score was from Hans Zimmer.
"First off let me say that after having read Mark Bowden's excellent book, my expectations of this film were primarily of the "I hope it doesn't suck too much" brand. The trailers were okay -- The fact that Bruckheimer was producing scared me. Pearl Harbor was the antithesis of what I hoped this movie would be.
"The fact that Ridley Scott was directing gave me hope. What worried me the most was the probability of the film being 'Hollywood-ized' considering the book jumps from so many characters, locations and actions in a very short amount of time. Also, this is one of the best books I have ever read. I went in hoping for something mediocre...
"Holy crap this movie is good.
"This film is absolutely flawless in its beat-for-beat, word-for-word adaptation of the book. There is not a moment or a line in the film that is not in the book or that didn't, for that matter, actually occur. The directing is top notch with Scott's meticulous detail -- the weapons, vehicles, uniforms, military movements, everything is exact. The performances are excellent primarily because none of the actors are given anything to say or do that is not exactly what was actually said and done. Therefore, everyone's performance has a very cool, kinda understated effect. We're not with anyone too long. No one is set up for us to like especially so when they die we feel bad. Everyone is given equal creedence.
"The Rangers are portrayed as they were -- young, kinda excited at first, and then seriously over their head. I never thought I say this, but Josh Hartnett, in particular was great. As Eversmann, the leader of Chalk four, this kid is actually beleivable, not to mention being a dead ringer for the real Eversmann. Sizemore I could do without in another war movie -- or so I thought -- but as Col. McKnight, he is well cast and not as overbearing as his Saving Private Ryan role. Ewan McGregor plays Specialist Stebbins although I think his name was Grimes in the film. He was cool -- though traces of his accent peek through at times.
"The Delta troopers in particular are portrayed as cool as I've seen special forces portrayed in film. The only visible difference between them and the Rangers is their black helmets. They are a bit distant with very few lines, but they CLEARLY know what they are doing and the Rangers look to them for support once the shit hits the fan -- about fifteen minutes in. William Fichtner and Eric Bana stand out as SERIOUS badasses, but they are never portrayed as a 'check me out how cool am I?' kind of character. Also on Delta is the dude who played Buddy in Three-o-clock High, one of the badguys from The Last Boy Scout (never thought I'd see him in a good movie) and a few other guys.
"The battle is shot incredibly and avoids (thank God) the current trend of shakey-cam Saving Private Ryan style camera work. None of that 'too-fast-to-know-what's-going-on' stuff from the beginning of Gladiator. The effects, apparently temporary were fine -- nothing overtly graphic, nothing looked too CGI. Lots of RPGs and machine gun fire. Very little room to breathe.
"I read that Ridley Scott got military backing on this -- if so -- it shows. He's got everything exact from the book -- the insertion with four Blackhawks and four Little Birds is amazing just to look at -- eight choppers in one shot??? The fast roping down to the street is crazy -- dust flying everywhere -- people yelling -- shots already coming it.
"Honestly this movie blew me away. I would suggest that everyone read this book first -- the fact that the movie adheres so stringently to the non fiction book is what makes this film so good. There are lines in the film that, had they not been actually spoken, might ring as phony, but they are absolutely real. The script by Ken Nolan, Bowden, and Steve Zaillain manages to include just about every interesting moment from the book -- For me the book had parts that were hard to keep track of -- moments when characters seperated by a few stone walls seemed to be a world apart -- the movie clearly shows you where everyone is and why.
'This film does not impose a point of view into the story. No 'what are we doing in Somalia' kinda stuff -- it did not include that dreaded shot of some poor Somalian kid getting shot with a Ranger standing over him where we're all supposed to think about how horrible this all is -- no slow-mo American flag waving -- nope, none of that -- this thing sticks to the facts and comes off as an extremely patriotic movie without trying to because, even though we had the guns -- they had the numbers -- and when the Rangers and Delta get stuck -- man -- all you want is for these poor guys to get the hell out of this god forsaken place as fast and as safely as possible.
"Spoilers -- anyone who has read the book will recognize these scenes, but this stuff for me was particularly awesome to actually see on film:
1. In the beginning, almost in passing, Bana's Delta character goes hunting for boars with a Blackhawk. 2. When Specialist... can't remember his name... when that one Ranger kid gets shot in the leg and the medic has to read up through the wound into his pelvis to try to find his artery to stop the bleeding.
3. When the Ranger driving the Humvee with Col. McKnight (Sizemore) gets blinded by an RPG flash and McKnight has to steer and tells him to simply "keep his foot on the gas".
4. When the two Delta snipers demand that General Garrison (Sam Sheperd) let them go down to attempt to singlehandedly fend of the crowds circling the second crash sight. (The CMH winners). These guys get on the ground and it's like a video game -- like Space Invaders -- the crowd is just surging at them and they have to keep shooting them point blank to keep them away. One shoots while the other is reloading -- one of the most, if not the most intense moments I have ever seen in a war movie.
5. When a Delta operator (Fitchner) has to lead a team of Rangers to the second crash sight.
6. Blackhawks broadcasting over a PA to captured pilot, Mike Durant, that they have not forgotten him and will get him out.
7. When, at the end, the coolest part of the film and book -- the Delta operator played by Eric Bana suits back up, woofs down some food and heads back into the city to keep fighting with the rest of Delta.
"Also, I found it interesting that all the names in the film are accurate from the book except the Delta operators who did not die in the fight -- kinda cool, considering the nature of their confidentiality. This movie WILL, without a doubt be nominated for best picture. Absolutely. I usually like three or four films a year and am a working screenwriter out here and I have got to say, quite honestly, that this is the best film I have seen since American Beauty and Three Kings.
"I thought it would be a cold day in hell before Jerry Bruckheimer won an Oscar, but he just may do it with this. This thing takes hold of you, bends you over and just gives it to you straight and hard for two hours. I've seen the history channel's documentary about the incident and this film could replace it -- it is that accurate and that detailed. If I could personally thank Ridley Scott for making this I would. READ THE BOOK first!!! I know I seem a little freaked about this but I can't react in any other way. I'm pissed no one else as seen this -- I can't get all goo-goo with anyone about how badass it is. Jeez -- and to think I thought Hollywood forgot how to make awesome movies..."
For someone who hates America, any military action in defense of it is beyond understanding: "pointless" or "meaningless" or "incoherent."
I can see why the Times hired this guy.
Oh. I thought, um, that was pretty much what they were, and what they did. Sorry.
I haven't read the book. But if the NYT rips this film is jingoistic, count me in. I'm going tonight.
Has any FReeper seen it yet? Is it worth seeing or a must see type of movie?
Seems he lost his Thesaurus. Most unseemly.
Hate to say it folks, but this happened, and they were a pack of snarling, dark-skinned beasts.
Only leftist fools use the term "jingoism" as a negative term for patriotism. I expect nothing more than leftist tripe from the New York Slimes newspaper.
Nah, they're not biased. No way.