here is a review from the best movie preview site on the web (in my opinion).
Coming Attractions
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..."
Hey--thanks for the site.
Look what's coming:
Who's In It: Mel Gibson (Lt. Col. Harold Moore); Madeleine Stowe (Julie Moore); Barry Pepper (Joseph Galloway); Sam Elliott; (Sgt. Maj. Basil L. Plumely); Chris Klein (Second Lt. John L. Geoghegan); Greg Kinnear (Major Bruce Crandall); Dylan Walsh; Keri Russell (Barbara Geoghegan); Ryan Hurst; Blake Heron; Doug Hutchinson; Clark Gregg; Marc Blucas; Taylor Momsen; Sloane Momsen.
Who's Making It: Randall Wallace (Director, Screenwriter); Bruce Davey, Steve McEveety, Randall Wallace (Producers); Jim Lemley (Executive Producer); Arne Schmidt (Co-producer); Danielle Lemmon, Stephen Zapotoczny (Associate Producers); Dean Semler (Director of Photography); Tom Sanders (Production Designer); William Hoy (Editor); Michael T. Boyd (Costume Designer); Paul Lombardi (Special Effects Coordinator); based upon the book by Hal Moore and Joseph Galloway.
Premise: In 1965 the first major battle between United States and Viet Cong forces was fought. Four hundred American soldiers entered enemy territory in the Ia Drang Valley and found themselves surrounded by 2,000 enemy troops. Facing these overwhelming odds was Harold Moore, the commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry troops and Joseph Galloway, a Associated Press reporter assigned to cover the story. There they held their ground for the longest month of their lives.
Release Date: March 1, 2002.
Scoop Feedback:
March 1, 2001... The cast of this film is currently enrolled in boot camp at Fort Benning, Georgia, where the Green Berets and Special Forces train their troops. There Gibson and the gang are getting in shape before they serve in director Randall Wallace's army. Filming gets underway March 5, 2001.
We were sent this outline by a reader describing two of the soldiers the movie will be based on: "Sam Elliott has signed on to play Sgt. Maj. Basil L. Plumely, USA with Mel Gibson playing then, Lt. Col. Harold Moore, USA..... Here's the real Sgt. Maj,'s resume:
"Plumley was one of the senior Sergeants-Major in the Army. He and Moore served together as Sergeant-Major and Commander for over two years at Fort Benning and in Vietnam.
"Plumley made all four combat jumps with the 82nd Airborne in World War II and one in Korea. One of a handful of living men to receive three awards of the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the list of his awards and decorations, starting with two Silver Stars, fill half a page - typed single space.
"He was one of the first Command Sergeants Major promoted to that grade in 1969. To this day, there are veterans of the 1/7 CAV who are convinced that God may look like CSM Plumley, but HE is not nearly as tough as the Sergeant Major on sins small or large."
[We salute Bob McMahon for providing this info.]
IGN FilmForce broke word that Grammy-winning singer Faith Hill will play a small role in the film. FilmForce's source also says that Denis Leary, once thought out of the running for the role that went to Greg Kinnear, is actually still in the running for another part. FF's source says Leary's chances stood at around "95%". [Originally appeared on IGN FilmForce.]
Another of our readers, also eager for us to launch a page for this project, contacted the Chamber of Commerce in Paso Robles, California, where We Were Once Soldiers will shoot next month. Our scooper was informed that the film is scheduled to start shooting at the end of March at Fort Hunter Liggett and run right through until June. ['Isawa Nate' reporting for duty, SIR!]
[Extra thanks to that eager anonymous individual (you know who you are), along with Niel Smith, 'Wungolioth the Wanderer' and 'Jack the Movie Merc' for enlisting in the service.]
March 2, 2001... "I've got an amendment to the scoop you've already got posted about this film. I work at Fort Benning, Georgia, where portions of the film will begin shooting on 5 March. They'll be shooting the scenes here of the unit as they prepared to go to Vietnam in 1965 (marksmanship ranges, boot camp type of training, parades, families, etc.). Mel Gibson and crew have been at our ranges the past week practicing with the weapons they'll use in the movie. All the extras are being played by real Soldiers and their families currently on active duty at Fort Benning.
"The book the movie is based on was titled We Were Soldiers