January 7, 2002. Copyright, 2002, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Patriotic movie recalls the battle of Mogadishu
By Mark Samms

LONDON, January 7, Graphic News:  WAS it a cynical bid to cash in on AmericaÕs heightened sense of patriotism after the atrocities of September 11, or merely a late bid for the Oscars?

These were the questions posed immediately producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Pearl Harbor, Armageddon) decided to pull forward the general release date of Black Hawk Down by four months to January. In the circumstances, either motive would be understandable, because this is an exceptional movie on several levels.

It is essentially a rousing tale of derring-do based on the true story of how a hundred elite U.S. soldiers were dropped into Somalia in the mid-1990s to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord. They eventually found themselves in a desperate struggle with a large force of heavily-armed Somalis Ð and not everyone returned.

Though the movie will hit the mark with Americans still reeling from the atrocities in New York and Washington, it is far more than a tub-thumping, flag-waving gesture to a bruised national psyche. It shows the horrors of war so graphically that director Ridley Scott (Gladiators, Alien, Thelma & Louise) insists that it is, in fact, an anti-war movie.

But a still-grieving nation will take consolation from this reminder that a combination of sound military strategy and courage can still prove successful, if costly. And the fact that Somalia is said to be one of the next countries targeted by the U.S. in its fight against worldwide terrorism adds a certain irony.

The movieÕs Oscar aspirations are not without foundation either. Scott elicits exceptional performances from some of the most popular young stars around, including Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbor), Ewan MacGregor (Moulin Rouge, Trainspotting) and Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan).

Early though it may be, some industry insiders are already suggesting that on the grounds of timing and quality alone, Black Hawk Down could be one of the most successful movies of 2002.
/ENDS

Release dates

Jan 18: UK, U.S. (general release)
Jan 31: Netherlands
Feb 14: Australia
Feb 20: Belgium, France
Feb 28: Netherlands
Mar 27: Denmark
Apr 03: Hungary
Apr 04: Czech Republic
Apr 11: Argentina
Apr 12: Iceland, Sweden

Sources: www.imdb.com; www.spe.sony.com; www.apple.com; www.upcomingmovies.com