By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Werner Herzog
Starring: Christian Bale | Jeremy Davies | Steve Zahn
Country: united_states
Year: 2007
Running time: 126
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462504/
Michael says: “I’m not a fan of war films, but leave it Werner Herzog to get me to go to one, and even to enjoy it for the most part. Of course, in most ways, RESCUE DAWN isn’t your typical war film. To start with, RESCUE DAWN is the narrative version of one of Herzog’s earlier films; the documentary LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY. Dieter Dengler grew up in Germany where as a child he developed a passion to become a pilot for the U.S. Air Force. On his first combat mission during the Viet Nam War, he is shot down in enemy territory and becomes a POW, enduring harsh treatment along with his fellow captives. The determined Dieter does eventually escape only to find himself lost in the Vietnamese jungle with his fellow POW Duane. Surviving the abuse of his Viet Cong captors is just the foreshadowing to the hardships that await the pair in the jungle. As is often the case in Herzog’s films, Dieter’s struggle for survival turns into a man vs. nature conflict, with the man in question suffused with an determination verging on obsession that ultimately saves his life.
“Herzog’s skill as a filmmaker is evident throughout the film, from the impressive shots of the formidable jungle, the spot on, yet subtle depiction of the obsessive Dieter, and the for-the-most-part effective score. Where he fails, perhaps through no fault of his own, is with the bombastic, over-the-top, ultra-patriotic ending. It screams of studio meddling. Christian Bale is effective as Dieter, and Steve Zahn reminds us all what a good actor he is in his portrayal of Duane. Jeremy Davies is effectively creepy as another prisoner whose rational mind has been eroded during his captivity. 3 cats”