“Rescue Dawn”
Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies
3 stars out of 4
Christian Bale earns another notch on his acting belt, as he plays imprisoned pilot Dieter Dengler who was shot down during a pre-Vietnam mission. Dengler was German born, and the whole movie shows his escape from the Vietcong that are holding him and a few others prisoner, in there cruel camp.
The director of the film is Werner Herzog, who previously directed the documentary “Little Dieter Needs to Fly”, a story also about Dengler’s epic fight for survival. This film is shot mostly in the POW camp, and in the hot jungle, Herzog’s camera captures every sense of tension, and desperation felt by these characters, especially the superstar Bale who turns in another meaty role that should demand Oscar attention.
It was supposed to be a basic mission, flying over Laos, and dropping bombs on enemy supply lines, instead Dieter is shot down, dragged through the jungle and introduced to his home in a small hut with a few other prisoners, played by Zahn and Davies, both with long hair, and grown out beards. Also Davies, who obviously lost much weight for this role, to show the hunger and starvation these people endured.
The story is strictly a human one; not a war movie by any means. The characters grow insane, as the psychology of there situation comes crashing down on them as the days pass, Dieter, remains sharp, and hopeful that when the first rain comes over the hot jungle, they can escape and fight of the Vietcong. Bale is fascinating as his character remains intact during this grueling and enduring experience. Herzog’s cinematography pays close attention to the jungle surroundings and climate that are much of an imprisonment, as the Vietcong. One character says “the jungle is the enemy.”
I wanted to like the film better, I wish I could have cared for the characters more, although I definitely felt the peril of Dengler’s escape, I wanted a little more. We never find out how long he was actually there, or what happened to the other prisoners. I respect and admire the film for its performances, mainly Bale’s and Zahn’s, also, Herzog’s camera work and setting were depression and beautiful at the same time.
Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies
3 stars out of 4
Christian Bale earns another notch on his acting belt, as he plays imprisoned pilot Dieter Dengler who was shot down during a pre-Vietnam mission. Dengler was German born, and the whole movie shows his escape from the Vietcong that are holding him and a few others prisoner, in there cruel camp.
The director of the film is Werner Herzog, who previously directed the documentary “Little Dieter Needs to Fly”, a story also about Dengler’s epic fight for survival. This film is shot mostly in the POW camp, and in the hot jungle, Herzog’s camera captures every sense of tension, and desperation felt by these characters, especially the superstar Bale who turns in another meaty role that should demand Oscar attention.
It was supposed to be a basic mission, flying over Laos, and dropping bombs on enemy supply lines, instead Dieter is shot down, dragged through the jungle and introduced to his home in a small hut with a few other prisoners, played by Zahn and Davies, both with long hair, and grown out beards. Also Davies, who obviously lost much weight for this role, to show the hunger and starvation these people endured.
The story is strictly a human one; not a war movie by any means. The characters grow insane, as the psychology of there situation comes crashing down on them as the days pass, Dieter, remains sharp, and hopeful that when the first rain comes over the hot jungle, they can escape and fight of the Vietcong. Bale is fascinating as his character remains intact during this grueling and enduring experience. Herzog’s cinematography pays close attention to the jungle surroundings and climate that are much of an imprisonment, as the Vietcong. One character says “the jungle is the enemy.”
I wanted to like the film better, I wish I could have cared for the characters more, although I definitely felt the peril of Dengler’s escape, I wanted a little more. We never find out how long he was actually there, or what happened to the other prisoners. I respect and admire the film for its performances, mainly Bale’s and Zahn’s, also, Herzog’s camera work and setting were depression and beautiful at the same time.
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