Behind Enemy Lines 2001
This is a well-made movie about a Navy F-18 pilot who is shot down over a hostile section of Bosnia. The flight sequences on the aircraft carrier and during the battle that downs the pilot are absolutely first-rate. The DVD tells you that they had the full cooperation of the Navy so that’s not really a surprise.
After that the movie becomes more of a cat and mouse story as the pilot tries to make his way back to friendly territory. The Macguffin is evidence of Bosnian war crimes and that is why the Bosnians need to kill the pilot and why the pilot so desperately needs to get back.
But ultimately the movie can’t make up its mind about whether it wants to be an action movie or a suspense thriller. It doesn’t do either very well. We get some shots of the bad guys looking evil but don’t learn that much about them. And the pilot, played by Owen Wilson, is a cardboard cutout who doesn’t need a lot of acting skill even though he does a good job delivering some pointed complaints to his pilot (oddly, the hero is a navigator even though I think F-18’s are one-seaters).
There’s another angle where the Navy can’t go in to save him because NATO feels it would jeopardize a fragile peace treaty in Bosnia. Gene Hackman, as the captain of the aircraft carrier is torn between obeying orders or saving the life of his pilot. But this is just another plot device and I kind of doubt NATO would nix a search and rescue mission.
The movie is well executed and keeps your attention but lacks substance. It fits pretty well in the mindless action movie stereotype despite some moments of suspense. A good cast is sacrificed on the altar of explosions and fight sequences. Next to a movie like Blackhawk Down, this just looks trite.
I’ll give it a C+ because it’s still kind of fun.