Seems like we're getting back on an even keel with the rating viewings now. Quite liking the new pag...
Seems like we're getting back on an even keel with the rating viewings now. Quite liking the new pages in a way. Thanks for all your rates.
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Director John McTiernan is well known for action films such as The Hunt For Red October (1990) and Die Hard: With A Vengeance (1995). His 2003 film Basic is a thriller with a twist: not so much an action film, although there are moments of action, it being a military-based film.
The Plot
Tom Hardy is a Drugs Enforcement Agent with ties to the military from his days as an Army Ranger. When he gets a call from an old friend, asking for help solving the disappearance of a special forces instructor, Sergeant Nathan West, and various members of his squad. Hardy soon realises that all is not as it seems, as he has a minimum of resources and witnesses, and it will take all of his experience to extract the information from marines hiding secrets! Set in Panama, Hardy has to battle against the conditions as well as some underhand goings on in this excellent thriller with superb twists all along the way.
The Cast and Performances
John Travolta is on fine form, and plays Hardy with authority, both as an actor and as the character. Samuel L Jackson is the other half of a blinding double lead as Nathan West, and the two are supported by a cast worthy of secret-keeping soldiers. They are gard-nosed marine-types who say 'Sir!' a lot with conviction, and as such do not have to 'act' too much, but there are elements when the mental state of some of the characters buckles under pressure of investigation, and here we see a stellar performance from the majority of the cast. Giovanni Ribisi, Bryan Van Holt and Taye Diggs are some of this cast, and Connie Nielsen and Tim Daly also give fine performances.
My Opinion
It is perhaps the confusing plot in confliction with the title of the film that makes this so good. The acting and the scene are controlled with great clinical ability by McTiernan, and he steers us first one way and then the next trying to guess who has done what, and indeed who is who. The atmosphere of the film is created superbly with the use of weather conditions to change the mood on a regular basis, as well as lighting and sound.
The overall presentation of the film is outstanding, yet the one criticism I have is involving the plot, which I have already hailed as being excellent. Throughout the majority of the film, we are shown a tale which is extremely believable. However, this reality fades somewhat towards the end, which is a shame, as it tars what would otherwise have been a flawless film in my view.
Conclusion
An excellent film, only slightly spoiled by a fading of reality towards the end. Absolutely superb acting.
The DVD is available from amazon.co.uk for £3.97
This review may also be posted on dooyoo.co.uk
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MAXIMUM ACTION! MAXIMUM SUSPENSE!Hollywood's hottest double act join forces for the first ... more
time since PULP FICTION for non-stop action in BASIC.Travolta is Tom Hardy, ex-Army Ranger turned Drug Enforcement Agency agent, a hardman with a dark past. Hardy...
Mar 24th, 2008
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