Behind Enemy Lines

Behind Enemy Lines (2001) starring Owen Wilson and Gene Hackman.

Before...I remember watching this a few years back on DVD, but I don't remember what I felt beforehand. I know I wasn't too impressed after watching, so here's hoping I will enjoy it more this time.

Fighter navigator Chris Burnett (Wilson) wants out: he was looking for something more than the boring recon missions he's been flying. When he fights with Admiral Leslie Reigart (Hackman), he quickly finds himself flying the lone Christmas day mission over war-torn Bosnia. But when he talks pilot Stackhouse into flying slightly off-course to check out an interesting target, the two get shot down. Burnett is soon alone, trying to outrun a pursuing army, while commanding officer Reigert finds his rescue operation hamstrung by politics, forcing Burnett to run far out of his way.

My wife's view..."Well having thought for a week this was actually Enemy at the Gates (which I love), when I sat down to watch it I was thinking it was Spy Game (which I don't understand). I was delighted to find out what it actually was. I saw it a month or two ago and forgot. I love this film. Gripping from start to end. A boy film designed for girls. It's not a classy film but it is excellent entertainment and so I am giving this ★★★★★"

Where to start..."A boy film designed for girls" I couldn't pin why this film didn't work until a few seconds ago when my wife dictated her review. It's not the fact that it needs gratuitous action set pieces it's the fact that it being a boy film it has no plot...which is fine. What the girl film side decided to do was give it characterisation and empathy for the characters, but when you put that together with a plotless film it just doesn't gel right. I'm not saying I don't like, cause I do but it needs a bit more raison d'etre for me.

I think if I had watched it when it first came out, it would have been a clever political piece, but now it kinda fumbles and falters it's way through the tense bits of the film...which brings me back to another gripe, the tension of the film is non-stop. I just couldn't take it really, the constant tension...that combined with no plot made me confused about why I was tense.

All in all even though I have destroyed this film in this review I quite enjoyed it. The acting isn't amazing but the action sequences and the tense sequences of the film work. Slick and stylish it is not but it is enjoyable, in a weird sort of way. So i will give this film...

★★★☆☆