Ever since Private Ryan there seems to be a renewed interest in World War II.  Good!  I have always been amazed by the stories from that time and am glad to see so many pictures being made now.

This was a different kind of war picture that had elements of patriotism, treachery, heroism, racism and mystery.  It turned out to be a good old fashioned "who dunnit".

The story is centered around "privileged" rear echelon Second Lieutenant Tommy Hart, Senator's son, played by Colin Farrell who finds himself in DEEP trouble when he volunteers to drive a Jeep and taxi a Captain.  He soon finds out what the real war is like and is taken prisoner.  Once he arrives at Stalag VI-A he is thrust into a quasi-leadership role that includes being a trial lawyer and combating racism and bigotry.  All this is thrown at him when two Black Tuskegee pilots, one played by Terrence Howard, show up as POWs. They are officers, captains, and that just doesn't sit right with some of the non-coms in the camp. Tension builds and betrayal follows as we try to figure out who did what and WHY!   Bruce Willis who is the star of this picture clears it all up just in time to throw a new twist at us that reminded me of some good old WW II pictures such as.........................nope!  If I name them, you'll know the ending.

The story was good but it was the PLOT that entertained and thickened constantly during this picture.  Farrell and Howard played their roles with passion and intelligence but it was Bruce Willis, with his coldness and icy personality, that gave this picture the substance that it needed to end with the bang that it did.

"I came here to kill Nazis.  If I wanted to kill Crackers, I would have stayed in Macon!"

RECOMMENDATION:  Scoop up that Vet that you know and treat him to a good old fashioned dose of memories!

TWO GREATEST GENERATION THUMBS UP!  (Heroes All!)

Movie Review © 2002 by Terry Anderson