By Frederic A. Germay
Imagine you were a Military Pilot just before World War II, and you were shot out of the sky over Vietnam. After that dreadful ordeal, you were taken prisoner and tortured with the foulest methods imaginable, and you were offered a way out if you signed a document that repudiated the actions of the United States government -- and you didn't sign it! "Rescue Dawn" tells the true tale of Dieter Dengler, and the trials and tribulations he endured while imprisoned in the dense, dangerous jungle of Vietnam.
To be quite honest, I came into this film with extraordinarily high expectations. After hearing critics worship this film, I decided that I would give it a shot. However, I found that I didn't really like it that much at all. Don't get me wrong; the film is a terrific masterpiece. It just wasn't my cup of tea -- I tend to enjoy the awe-striking, jaw-dropping special effects of those summer blockbusters. Whereas this movie had none of the glamorous appeal of those multi-million dollars hits, in fact it felt as though someone with a camera was simply following these soldiers. It almost felt as though this wasn't a film and you were right there with these soldiers, experiencing their fear, hunger, and exhaustion. I suppose that was what the director was aiming for, so bravo for a feat well accomplished!
The film really starts to soar when Dieter meets other prisoners who have spent years in the jungle-encrusted prison. After awhile Dieter manages to persuade the worn-out captives to aid him with an escape plan. Despite my dislike for this film's grittiness, I was absolutely captivated -- my eyes never unglued themselves from the screen! Thanks to the rather film's rather real style, I was on the edge of my seat during the scenes where the soldiers were preparing for their escape!
The acting performances in this film are phenomenal. Christian Bale gives a performance of a lifetime, and Steve Zahn's battered, dispirited shell of human is Oscar-worthy in every way. If I had to choose one reason to recommend this film it would be the acting. The characters felt so real, and they actually looked the part as well. When I saw the frail skin-and-bone bodies of the prisoners, I almost hoped that it was some kind of visual effect -- there is no way they could be that skinny!
Despite all the positives, I had some minor problems with the film. During their imprisonment in the jungle, the inmates apparently had to converse in whispers. That led to some rather muffled conversation, which wasn't helped by the film's rather low-budget feel. I kept missing what the character were saying, and some jokes and relevant plot lines were probably missed in the process.
Overall, this film was a success. Whether it was the cringe-worthy scenes of the prisoners pulling leeches out of their bodies, or the laugh-inducing first question of the prisoners when Dieter arrived (so who won the World Series?) this film has an undeniable intense magic that is seldom seen in cinema today. In just two hours, the movie takes you on such a vast journey, in which betrayal, heartbreak, patriotism, and the desire to survive take on new meaning. Despite the fact that this film wasn't my cup of tea, I didn't hesitate to appreciate the fact that it is one of the top ten films of the year so far. I give it a 10/10.
