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Dom Robinson reviews
Viewed at
Warner Village, Bolton
- Cert:
- Running time: 106 minutes
- Year: 2001
- Released: 4th January 2002
- Widescreen Ratio: 2.35:1
- Rating: 7/10
Director:
- John Moore
Producers:
- John Davis
Screenplay:
- David Veloz & Zak Penn
Original Score :
- Don Davis
Cast :
- Lt Chris Burnett: Owen Wilson
Adm. Reigert: Gene Hackman
Stackhouse: Gabriel Macht
Rodway: Charles Malik Whitfield
Piquet: Joaquim de Almeida
Capt. O’Malley: David Keith
Lokar: Olek Krupa
The Tracker: Vladimir Mashkov
Behind Enemy Linesis the debut for Irish director John Moore and is rather star-free,save for reliable movie stalwart Gene Hackman and, to a lesser extent,Owen Wilson who I’ve only seen before as the cowboy hick astronautin Armageddon alongside Bruce Willis.
The simple story finds fed-up Navy pilot Lt Chris Burnett (Owen Wilson)heading off on another routine mission, this time being under the threat ofgetting kicked out by Admiral Reigert (Gene Hackman) for being thekind of recruit who he doesn’t think gives a shit about the Navy life, but we,the audience, know he’s a good guy really, he’s just the one with all thescripted wisecracks, but all the other characters aren’t aware of this fact.
While out flying on a routine reconnaissance mission, Burnett and his co-pilotStackhouse (Gabriel Macht) go a little off the beaten track to an areawhere no-one should be about, so they’re far from expecting an EasternEuropean rebel group to be taking up residence and, as Burnett takes photographsof what’s going on, so those on the ground return the favour with a couple ofsurface-to-air missles (SAMs), causing them to crash-land after an exhilaratingcat-and-mouse chase sees one of the missles flooring them.
The plot could seem to be based on the incident from a few years ago in whichAir Force pilot Lt Scott O’Grady was shot down in enemy territory and laterrescued by his forces, but I understand that’s as far as the similarities go.
Once on the ground what follows is very predictable but very entertaining allthe same. The pilots think they’re safe, Stackhouse can’t walk after the crashso takes a seat while Burnett goes to get to higher ground so he can broadcastback to base. While he leaves his friend behind, there’s a genuinely grippingpiece of supense as the enemy find him and, eventually, make an example of him,which is why we’re left with a largely one-man-against-the-elements show. Itwas a shame they dispensed with Stackhouse in the way they did because thetension was dissipated in an instant (and it’s not a spoiler to know that he’skilled off because you know it’s a “one-man-against-the-rest” kind of film)before you take your seat.
Amidst the carnage, Owen takes time out to pose.
Let’s get one thing straight. This is a fantastic fun film – especiallyfor a weekend out – and any action-movie fans will lap it up, especially withthe flashy music video-style delivered in droves, but don’t expect greatthings in respect of characterisation.
Wilson is fine as the all-American hero but his character his clearly definedfrom the outset because he’s the main man on camera. Similarly, Hackman’sReigert is simply the man who barks orders at Burnett but takes them from hisGeoffrey Rush look-a-like superior but ends up going against them when he’stold not to risk life and limb to “get his boy back”. Other than that, anyonecould be playing anyone. You’re left with a series of angry young men on theground pacing the ground or punching a hole in a map as another setback occurs.
The scripting could do with a little rethink in some parts. There’s a slightplot diversion as Burnett thinks he’s been saved by a passing truck afterHackman delays the rescue yet again, but the passengers, a resistance forceagainst the rebels, disappear almost as quickly as they appear, some tenminutes of screen-time later and a plot-hole also rears its ugly head asBurnett somehow escapes after an explosion which separates him from theresistance movement.
The rebels are similarly difficult to attribute names to with paper-thincharacters but it’s easy to spot which is the thick one and which one’shell-bent on revenge, etc, the latter being the leader’s right-hand man,making him rather like Arnold Vosloo‘s Pik fromHard Target -right-hand man to Lance Henriksen, because he makes it his own one-manmission to bring Burnett down.
There’s also a couple of other moments reminding me of other films, one ofCapricorn One – butfor reasons which I won’t divulge so as not to spoil the plot – and anotherof the opening scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indy stealsthe idol and has to dodge bullets and darts aplenty.
Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 2002.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.