Sunday, July 15, 2007
Movie Reviews: RESCUE DAWN
Ended up having to miss Mr. Potter's newest entry this week but will be seeing it next week
IN THEATHERS
RESCUE DAWN
Based on a true story, Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale) is a fighter pilot shot down during the Vietnam war. Taken hostage at a POW camp, Dengler arranges a masterful escape plan to get away from his sadistic captors.
Cast Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies, Marshall Bell, Zach Grenier (more)
Director(s) Werner Herzog
Writer(s) Werner Herzog
Status In theaters (limited)
Genre(s) Drama
Release Date July 4, 2007
Running Time 126 minutes
MPAA Rating PG-13 - for some sequences of intense war violence and torture
Review:
Rescue Dawn is an incredibly gripping fantastically acted and thoroughly moving POW movie. Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man) has crafted a totally engrossing film lacking any of jingoistic trappings or character clichés from similar fare. Herzog uses his d oc u m e n tarian background to give the setting an excellent sense of reality and danger. Herzog direction is enhanced greatly by the performances put forward by the superb cast. Christian Bale once again gives another fantastic performance, giving Dieter Dengler a sense of drive and endless optimism. Bale also subjects his body to a major transformation, much as he did in The Machinist, by losing a massive amount of weight throughout the film, by film's end he hardly looks like the same person. Steve Zahn gives his best performance ever as Dengler's fellow POW Duane. Zahn gives his character a real sense of despair bordering on insanity. Jeremy Davies (Saving Private Ryan) also adds another excellent performance as POW Gene who's inches away from losing his grip with reality. These great performances allow the audience to connect to with the characters allowing us to have the same sense of anxiety and dread as film progresses. If I can find one small fault with the film, its ending comes off as a bit too cliché especially considering everything that came before it. Also, this movie maybe move a tab bit slowly for some expecting a more action oriented Vietnam film but this is not that kind of film. Still this is an excellent film that honors those who suffered through the real experience.
A
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