"Black Hawk Down" is a raw war movie in the truest sense. Not much plot, dialogue that constantly is drowned out by a cacophony of exploding grenades and bullets ripping through cement walls and human flesh, and ferocious battles that result in plenty of bloodshed and mangled corpses.
The re-creation of the battle is based on extensive eyewitness reports from survivors and information from the Department of Defense. Director Ridley Scott triumphs in recapturing the chaos and horror. However, the bloodshed and death seem needless as well as endless, and the vividness of those elements makes many scenes in the movie difficult to sit through.
"Black Hawk Down" does steer clear of the greater horrors described in the book, written by Marc Bowden. These images add up: Americans firing at civilians acting as human shields for Somali fighters, Somalis defiling the bodies of the Americans, and Clinton's controversial call to leave the fallen troops there. Despite backing out of these higher concerns, the movie still is a very powerful and heavy film that will leave the viewer wary of war and questioning whether, as is chillingly suggested by a Somali fighter, bloodshed is the modern manner of negotiation.
"Black Hawk Down" is a credit to the survivors and victims of the battle. Nothing is re-created that did not actually happen. There is no token cowardly soldier who suddenly finds his courage in battle, or any weepy emotional subplots. This movie does an admirable job of simply retelling as exactly as possible the chaotic events of the battle in Somalia.
The prologue sets the scene.
The Habr Gidr clan, led by Warlord Mohammed Farrah Aidad, has taken control of Mogadishu, Somalia and has been hoarding all incoming United Nations food rations. Mass starvation results in over 300,000 Somalian deaths, which increases the threat of genocide and causes President Clinton to send in American armed forces.
After the prologue, a group of Americans flies over a U.N. food drop and watches as Habr Gidr clan members gun down civilians trying to get food. The troops ask if they can engage the enemy. The reply: "Negative. It is against U.N. policy to fire without being fired upon." The troops return to base and wait for their chance.
That chance comes on Oct. 3, 1993.
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After months of continuous failures, General Garrison (Sam Shepard) sees an opportunity to deal a powerful blow to the Habr Gidr clan. Confirmed intelligence reports place two of Aidad's top lieutenants at a meeting in downtown Mogadishu. Garrison plans a quick strike operation in which a force of about 100 American Rangers and Delta troops are ordered to capture the lieutenants and bring them back to base.
After the mission is explained, some brief character introductions are made. Josh Hartnett plays Sergeant Matt Eversmann, a humble Ranger leading men into battle for the first time. Ewan McGregor portrays Clerk John Grimes, a paper pushing soldier who gets his "lucky" chance to enter into battle.
Tom Sizemore (Col. Danny McKnight), William Fichtner (Sgt. Paul Howe), and Jeremy Piven (Pilot "Elvis" Prescott) are among the notables. Despite the strong cast, no actor overshadows the harrowing situation, and the manner in which the film is shot further serves to mute any star power and focus the attention on the danger surrounding the American troops.
The mission begins as planned and almost is complete when a rocket-propelled grenade slams into the tail of a Black Hawk helicopter and causes it to crash. Shortly thereafter, another helicopter is downed.
The remainder of the film portrays the 24-hour-long struggle of American soldiers carrying out an unforeseen rescue mission against incredible odds. The events of the battle seem overly heroic. In one scene, an American Ranger has his finger shot off. He screams, but picks up his finger and resumes fighting. Another two soldiers, who requested to be airdropped next to one of the crash sites, fight off thousands of angry Somalis just to protect their dead comrades' bodies.
Such overwhelming situations and the stirring way in which the soldiers respond is the film's focus. The straight forward manner of the movie does more to define their characters and dignify their memories than any plot device could accomplish. "Black Hawk Down" is a worthy tribute to American soldiers.
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