"Black Hawk Down"

Title: "Black Hawk Down"
Director: Ridley Scott
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer and Ridley Scott
Editing: Pietro Scalia
Composer: Hans Zimmer and Denez Prigent
Starring:
- Josh Harnett as Staff Sgt. Matt Eversmann
- Ewan McGregor as Specialist John "Grimsey" Grimes
- Tom Sizemore as Lt. Colnel Danny McKnight
- Eric Bana as Sgt. First Class Norm "Hoot" Gibson

Plot and Critical Review: In an attempt to shorten this portion of the review i'll use the plot synopsis found on Wikipedia. It will serve us well. Forgive the presence of so many links (to explanatory Wikipedia articles), although they may be helpful if you'd like to research the historical/military side of this film.

"In a raid, a task force of Delta Force soldiers, Army Rangers, and Special Operations Aviation Regiment attempt capturing two of Mohammed Farah Aidid's senior subordinates in the Bakaara Market neighborhood of Mogadishu. The mission is led by Major General William F. Garrison and was supposed to take no more than one hour. The extraction by the Delta team is successful, but the Somali militia, armed with RPGs, shot down two Black Hawk helicopters, and the resulting rescue extends the mission to over 15 hours.

The film follows many characters through build-up, the assault and rescue. It shows how Staff Sergeant Matt Eversmann was placed in charge of Ranger Chalk Four, before portraying the raid and successful extraction of the wanted persons, and shows the first injury, as PFC Todd Blackburn falls from a helicopter as it maneuvers to avoid an RPG. This is the beginning of the indication that the troops are overwhelmed by the volume of enemy militia, and builds up to the two helicopter crashes: Super Six-One piloted by Cliff "Elvis" Wolcott, and Super Six-Four piloted by Mike Durant. Durant is taken prisoner after the two Delta snipers who requested to be inserted near the crash site of Super Six-Four are killed while defending him.

The film also follows two Chalk Four machine gunners who are supposed to return with the extraction team, but miss the humvees as they leave, and get lost. One of them is deafened by machine-gun fire, but they eventually make their way back to Eversmann. Cpl Jamie Smith attempts to rescue one of them, whose ammo bag was shot and exploded, but Smith gets shot too, and eventually bleeds to death.

The film begins to reach its conclusion as the U.S. forces regain control with strafing runs by Little Bird helicopters, and a convoy of troops from the 10th Mountain Division, along with other United Nations forces, arrives to extract the wounded. Back at the base, Norm "Hoot" Hooten begins to restock on ammunition, preparing to go back out to rescue downed soldiers, and Eversmann tells a dead Jamie Smith that he will fulfill his dying wish.

The film ends with text informing the viewer that 19 Americans and approximately 1000 Somalis died in the conflict, after Mike Durant's release, Mohamed Farrah Aidid died and General Garrison took full responsibility for the raid and resigned in 1996."

Ridley Scott has always been known for his willingness to take on cinematic challenges of every kind. His first feature film, "The Duelists", was a complete failure which caused him much disappointment and distress. After doing so well in the UK many feared he wouldn't make it in Hollywood. In 1979 he proved everybody wrong when he directed "Alien", a film that was a reflection of science-fiction film-making up to that point and has consequently influenced much of the sci-fi cinematic world to this day. That was only the beginning.

"Blade Runner", "Legend", "Black Rain", "G.I. Jane", and "Gladiator" are just a few of the films Scott directed which have reached international acclaim. His tenacity, dedication to accuracy (when applicable), ingenuity in filming, and overall sense of creativity with regard to his craft has made him one of the most celebrated and decorated directors of the 20th century. "Black Hawk Down" is in every way a synthesis of Scott's talent. From the beginning scenes at the Red Cross food distribution center to the final shot of caskets secured within the belly of a military plane we are transported to East Africa where American forces try to reclaim some sense of order over an escalating situation in the city of Mogadishu. Scott isn't afraid to expose us to the most aggressive and intense side of warfare. The point of view he affords us is constantly changing; we see over the shoulders of the soldiers, through the sights of their very guns, and the hands of surgeons and commanders alike become our own as we witness an historical event we'd much rather forget. But "Black Hawk Down" is anything but forgetful.

Remember "The Duelists"? That movie grossed $900,000. In the weekend of its first wide release (for it opened on a limited scale two weeks before) "Black Hawk Down" made over $28 million dollars and went on to gross over $178 million. Even though we live in an age when an average blockbuster might make $100 million in its first weekend alone, this film bears witness to how successful Scott's films have been and will continue to be.

My Rating: 7/10

The "Reel Revelation": "When The Tide Changes"

If there is a primary emotion woven through "Black Hawk Down" it is the emotion of surprise or, if you don't think "surprise" can be quantified as an emotion, shock. In motion pictures there is often a moment of enormous loss (or change of some sort) that causes the plot to move in a new direction. This keeps movies interesting and viewers enthralled. As soon as the first black hawk helicopter was shot down the entire movie changed direction along with the objective of the armed forces in Mogadishu. "We just lost the initiative." Those five words served as the pivot point upon which the whole film took a new and suspenseful direction.

Have you ever been in the middle of a moment like that? Don't think on an epic scale like that displayed in today's film, but think about the things that have happened in your life which happened without any warning, something you could never have expected. Thought of something? Go back to that moment, to the very moment when you realized the direction of your life was changing and there was nothing you could do about it. How did you react? Did you react at all, or was the shock that accompanied that event so overwhelming you felt as if your whole life was standing still?

We've all been in those situations and what we do when we encounter those life-altering events is what matters. Using "Black Hawk Down" as a template, here are a few things to keep in mind when difficulties come your way.

1) Remain calm. Recall Tom Sizemore's character who, while even in the midst of extreme combat, kept his cool. He walked through the downpour of bullets and rockets like he was walking through a field under a spring rain. He kept focused on the objective, even one that had been determined only moments before. His ability to remain in control of his emotions also enabled him to lead and direct others. Who knows how God might use you when a difficult situation arises to encourage the lives of those around you.

2) Remain focused. Although a calm person might be rid of the shock that comes alongside a difficult event they still have to remain aware of the things that need to be accomplished. Although there is definite value (and a biblical precedent) for achieving rest (Sabbath) an unexpected event will often bring with it a new set of objectives. As soon as the first helicopter was lost every soldier (grunt to General) had to change their focus to the new task at hand; rescuing their wounded brothers in arms. Although some hesitated everyone joined in the fight. They were all feeling the effects of knowing that some of their friends had been killed but their common sense of focus and determination allowed them to work together.

3) Remain connected. When something tragic happens in our lives one of the most natural tendencies we might experience is the urge to run off, lick our wounds, and wallow in self-pity. And while there may be some value in retreating (just as Jesus did when he was overcome by the demands of his life) to a silent place to recharge and refocus we must not sever our connection to the people that give us strength, the people that allow us to remain calm, remain focused, etc. It is of the highest importance that we not allow our connection and communion with God to suffer because of unexpected events. Even when our hearts are broken and bleeding and we might honestly believe the best thing we can do is run, let us not run away but run into the arms of Jesus and those who love us. Even though they were all reeling from the escalating situation around them the soldiers in Mogadishu had to remain in communication with one another, to remain in their common strength as a combat unit in order to survive. In the real world the "Lone Ranger" doesn't always ride off into the sunset.

May God comfort you in the midst of unexpected events and grant you peace this Lenten season.

See you tomorrow - E.T.

P.S. - Thanks to those who have taken the time to alert me of grammatical mistakes in my reviews. I end up spending so much time writing I rarely have the energy to go back over my reviews piece-by-piece. You are all doubly encouraged to respond (here in the form of a comment or by e-mail/Facebook) if there's something i've written which has been of value to your life.