Behind Enemy Lines (2001)
As you can tell from the title, this is a tense military drama with lots of action and uncertainty. You won’t be sure who’s going to make it out alive, and you’ll never see the twists and turns coming. Personally, I love movies like this, so I knew I’d enjoy Behind Enemy Lines. John Moore’s directing style was a little too busy for my taste, though, with constant handheld action, swirls, and swerves. The story was full of enough action, it didn’t need artificial excitement.
I know he’s made dramas, but I’ve rarely seen Owen Wilson in light movies. He was really believable in this movie! He plays a fighter pilot who has never seen any action (this movie had a very untimely release of November 2001; I can only imagine the audience cringing when Owen complains that the nation isn’t at war) and he longs to put his training into use. He hands his resignation to Admiral Gene Hackman, who is disappointed at his attitude. But, on a routine reconnaissance flight over Bosnia, he sees some activity in a supposedly neutral zone. He deviates from his flight orders to take some photos, but then his plane is shot down. Can Gene Hackman work together with Joaquim de Almeida, head of the NATO Naval command, to rescue Owen without causing international conflict (since technically Owen wasn’t supposed to fly in that zone)?
If you like these types of stories, I highly recommend this movie. As a good double feature, try No Escape, also with Owen Wilson. I was very surprised to learn at the end of the film that it was based on a true story. We never really know how much our men in uniform have to go through, and as much as Hollywood sometimes glamorizes it, it’s always moving to find out the inspiration was real.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. John Moore’s directing style features a nearly endless handheld camera with swirls, swerves, and zooms, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
More Owen Wilson movies here!
I know he’s made dramas, but I’ve rarely seen Owen Wilson in light movies. He was really believable in this movie! He plays a fighter pilot who has never seen any action (this movie had a very untimely release of November 2001; I can only imagine the audience cringing when Owen complains that the nation isn’t at war) and he longs to put his training into use. He hands his resignation to Admiral Gene Hackman, who is disappointed at his attitude. But, on a routine reconnaissance flight over Bosnia, he sees some activity in a supposedly neutral zone. He deviates from his flight orders to take some photos, but then his plane is shot down. Can Gene Hackman work together with Joaquim de Almeida, head of the NATO Naval command, to rescue Owen without causing international conflict (since technically Owen wasn’t supposed to fly in that zone)?
If you like these types of stories, I highly recommend this movie. As a good double feature, try No Escape, also with Owen Wilson. I was very surprised to learn at the end of the film that it was based on a true story. We never really know how much our men in uniform have to go through, and as much as Hollywood sometimes glamorizes it, it’s always moving to find out the inspiration was real.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. John Moore’s directing style features a nearly endless handheld camera with swirls, swerves, and zooms, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
More Owen Wilson movies here!