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.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.