Reel Critics

Peggy Rogers

Upon arrival at the stalag, Lt. Hart (Colin Farrell, “Tigerland”) is

assigned to the enlisted men’s quarters. He has lost his right to bunk

with the officers after being accused of breaking a military code of

honor, which he resolutely denies throughout the film.

Trained and educated at West Point, Col. McNamara (Bruce Willis)

adheres to a strict code of honor and discipline his men have difficulty

living up to, especially Hart.

Col. Visser may have been born German but his Yale education equips

him with a passion for all things American, from a love of jazz to the

military judicial system. For reasons of his own Col. Visser takes a

liking to Lt. Hart, having private chats with him, which angers McNamara.

The arrival of two more officers at the camp, assigned to bunk with

the enlisted men like Hart, leads to a murder and possible frame-up that

leads to a trial.

Told from the point of view of Lt. Hart, the film unfortunately has

the audience looking through his eyes throughout the story, abruptly

switching to McNamara’s point of view for the resolution. The effect is

unsatisfying, resulting in a long list of unanswered questions for

viewers.

Willis doesn’t disappoint his fans with his trademark quiet, moody and

short-on-patient aura. Marcel Iures portrayal of Col. Visser as the evil

commandant falls somewhere between the Colonels on “Hogan’s Hero’s” and

the ones on “Schindler’s List.” Much of “Hart’s War” is a redone “Stalag

17.” The experience of having seen many American POW movies that were

done better reduces the Lt. Hart character to nothing more than a

rewrite.

* PEGGY J. ROGERS, 39, produces commercial videos and documentaries.