Sunday 15 May 2016

Freeview film of the day : sunday 15th of May

Rescue Dawn (2006 120min.) [BBC2 11.30PM)

A fighter pilot is shot down over enemy territory during the Vietnam War and endures a harrowing incarceration in a prisoner of war camp. Determined to escape, he rallies his fellow captives to mount a daring break-out and together they embark on a desperate journey through the jungle. Werner Herzog's drama, starring Christian Bale, Steve Zahn and Jeremy Davies.

In Europe Werner Herzog is still probably best known for his cult favourite Arthouse films of the seventies and eighties, such as Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) and Fitzcarraldo (1982).
In later life though he has developed a secondary career making insightful documentary films and (from time to time) big budget dramas for the Hollywood studios.

Therefore the opening scenes of this film are a little surprising - is Herzog attempting to make a Top Gun style action adventure about military men and their machines?

But, once the story proper gets under way it's obvious that the subject matter and the director are a perfect fit.
Rather than explosions and gruelling battle scenes what you get is a study of the physical and psychological relationships between the group of US soldiers and their relationship to their captors.

And the director handles this very well : he's also perfectly at home with the more traditional elements of the war film genre and makes the absolute best of the locations (the stifling jungle heat and the oppressive nature of the landscape both help set the mood and tone of the film).

Christian Bale does solid work at the head of the cast but the real joys are in the supporting ensemble - the reliable Steve Zahn and the always excellent Jeremy Davies contribute some superb work. Davies is particularly good - his slightly spaced out, twitchy acting style is perfectly suited to the part and strongly but quietly reminds us that the Vietnam War wasn't fought by battle hardened veterans but, for the most part, scared kids barely out of school.

There's some saggy moments but overall Herzog keeps things moving along at a decent pace.
"Enjoyable" isn't the right word : but there's enough here to keep you interested and involved for a couple of hours.

Worthwhile.

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