Drama Pick: Black Hawk Down (2001)
Like many other poor, unfortunate souls, I got dragged by a date to The Fault In Our Stars this past weekend. Needless to say, it was a tearjerker that ruthlessly, robotically tried to make me cry, and it almost succeeded a few times. So, in service of dudes everywhere, this week I’m recommending a gritty, thrilling, testosterone-fueled flick, one filled with furious gunfights, bromances and absolutely no lovelorn cancer patients. I’m talking Black Hawk Down. That’s not a drama, you say? Take it up with Netflix.
You will rarely find a war movie of more shattering force than this Ridley Scott-directed modern masterpiece. Centering on the Battle of Mogadishu, 123 American soldiers are deployed to lawless Somalia in order to capture two lieutenants of a local warlord. When two Black Hawk helicopters are shot down, however, the mission turns into a desperate battle for survival, with the U.S. soldiers going up against a larger, heavily armed group of Somalis.
Yes, Black Hawk Down is based on a true story, and yes, it is heartbreaking in places. But unlike the plainly exploitative The Fault in Our Stars, it’s about something that is real and relevant to our world today. It focuses on the real-life horrors and unpredictability of modern warfare, the bonds between brothers, and why war is always and has always been a gamble. More than any other film about war that I’ve seen, Black Hawk Down gets you thinking. And with Scott’s frenetic direction and a number of remarkable performances, it’s as breathtaking to behold as any action film out there.