REEL CRITICS

Richard Brunette and Susan Perez

A ‘War’ worth watching on video

It occurred to me that it’s a funny thing the release date for the new

film “Hart’s War” was during Valentine’s Day week. You know, a play on

words with “Hart’s War” and Valentine’s Day and “hearts” and all that. I

wonder if it was intentional or coincidental.

Anyway, another funny thing about the new based-on-a-true-story film

“Hart’s War” is that the film’s advertising campaign gives you the

impression it’s a movie about Bruce Willis and his “war” in a Nazi prison

camp during World War II, complete with action scenes of battle and

everything. You naturally assume Willis stars as the movie’s namesake

Hart.

Well, the reality is the film is a slow-paced murder mystery, a story

within a story, revolving around black and white race relations in the

1940s, and Willis isn’t even the main actor.

The outer layer of conflict is between Col. William McNamara (Willis),

a tough-as-nails, fourth-generation West Pointer who is locked in a

battle of wills with the prison camp’s commanding officer, Col. Werner

Vissur (Marcel Iures), who incidentally is Yale-educated and fond of

“Negro jazz.” This struggle serves as a major theme and plot device that

drives everything else going on in the film’s multiple story lines.

The primary story is about Lt. Thomas Hart (Colin Farrell), appointed

by Col. McNamara to defend a black officer accused of murdering fellow

prisoner Sgt Vic Bedford (Cole Hauser), a white racist believed to be

responsible for another black officer’s death in the camp.

So, basically, you have a lot of things going on in this film. You

have a few action sequences, including a graphic scene early on when Hart

is captured after having a fellow soldier’s brains blown out and splatter

on his face. And there’s the blow-stuff-up battle scene with planes

attacking the train station while the POWs are en route to the camp. And

there’s a nifty aerial battle over the prison camp between allied and

German fighters.

Then you have the painted-by-the-numbers prison camp, with its

typecast prisoners and Nazi guards, and the all too familiar private war

between the two opposing commanders. And you’ve got the young,

inexperienced and idealistic officer squaring off against the seasoned,

stoic veteran officer. Then you’ve got a murder mystery, complete with a

racism angle.

Oh yeah, and I almost forgot about the plant next to the prison camp

that is actually producing bombs while the Allies think it’s a

shoe-making factory. And, of course, there’s the ever-present escape

being planned by the prisoners. Whew. That’s a lot of stuff. I want to

take a nap just telling you about it.

But, overall, it’s not a bad film, and it does have a few interesting

twists. Rated R for strong language and war violence, on my movie rating

scale of Pay Full Price, Bargain Matinee, Video Rental, Wait for Cable or

TV Movie of the Week, I give “Hart’s War” a strong Video Rental rating.

And while you’re there, pick up the “The Great Escape,” starring, among

others, Steve McQueen. Now that’s a great World War II prison camp movie.

* RICHARD BRUNETTE is a recreation supervisor for the city of Costa

Mesa and a Costa Mesa resident.

‘Ball’ includes some monster performances

The unusual drama “Monster’s Ball” delves into the dark side of human

nature, while ending with a note of hope for its main characters.

Night after night, Georgia corrections officer Hank Grotowski (Billy

Bob Thornton) awakens sick to his stomach. What is it that’s making him

ill? Is it his joyless life? Is it his abusive relationship with his

sensitive son Sonny (Heath Ledger), also a guard at the prison? Is it his

brittle, redneck father Buck (Peter Boyle) or all of the above?

Hank and Sonny are assigned to the guard detail of death row inmate

Lawrence Musgrove (Sean Combs), whose execution is imminent. This

assignment is painful to Sonny, which in turn infuriates Hank, as it goes

against the family’s tradition of racism and misanthropy.

In due time, Hank crosses paths with Leticia (Halle Berry), a new

waitress at the diner with a seriously obese son. She is also the widow

of the man Hank just helped to execute, although neither of them realizes

this until much later.

Hank reluctantly comes to Leticia’s aid in a crisis, and the two find

they have a lot in common. Both are flawed, lonely, wounded people.

Although initially I felt Hank’s motives were suspect, he genuinely feels

the need to take care of someone, and Leticia is tired and ready to let

someone take care of her.

The much-talked about love scene symbolized a desperate act of

connecting with another human being, something neither of them has been

able to manage for quite some time.

The performances by Thornton, Boyle, Ledger and Combs are outstanding.

At the emotional center of the film is Halle Berry, whose Oscar

nomination is well-deserved. Despite some criticism that she is “too

beautiful” for the role, the ex-model has proven herself to be a talented

actress.

“Monster’s Ball” leaves many questions unanswered. How will the lovers

deal with their pasts? Can a relationship sprung from tragedy really hope

to succeed? The answers are for you to decide.

“Monster’s Ball” is rated R for strong sexual content, language and

violence.

* SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for

a financial services company.