We salute you, Mr. Willis.

JB

Brilliant performances overshadow what faults this movie had. Movie follows the capture and imprisonment of Lt. Hart (Colin Farrell) in the camp Stalag VI. Being a wuss, he is assigned by Col. McNamara (Willis, in the wake of his new 20 lbs a movie diet) to a barracks with enlisted men, which later include two African American pilots. One of these pilots, Lt. Archer, is framed by racist Private Bedford, for concealing a weapon, and is shot. Bedford is later found dead, apparently by Lt. Archer's friend, Lt. Scott. The prisoners convince Commandant Visser (a brilliant Marcel Iures a la Peacemaker) to hold a court martial trial to which, being an educated Yale man, Visser agrees. The trial that follows is terse, well-written, and full of numerous unclear motivations. Also an Oscar-notable performance by Lt. Scott (Terrence Howard), as the victim of a racist society which has never accorded him justice. Willis, as we later find, has others digging a trench while the trial is going on, which is used to destroy a nearby munitions plant. Another great film by Hoblit, of Fallen fame.

BEST TIME TO TAKE A LEAK: Anytime Farrell, Willis, Iures, or Howard isn't on screen.

BEST USE OF SPECIAL EFFECTS: The horribly cheesy explosion of the munitions plant... strangely no pieces fell on anyone.

Rent the DVD