Rescue Dawn (2006)
NETFLIX SYNOPSIS: Renowned director Werner Herzog’s inspiring film recounts the heroic saga of Dieter Dengler, a German-American fighter pilot and highly decorated Vietnam veteran whose reconnaissance plane was shot down in 1966. Captured by enemy forces and held in a Laotian torture camp near the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Dengler (portrayed by Christian Bale) defied death by organizing one of the most daring escapes in the Vietnam conflict.
REVIEW: First off, not sure why it’s a 2006 copyright, but I just saw this in theaters today and it is indeed a 2006 release. Man, my SO, who’s never seen a Herzog film and never gives anything 5 stars, gives this 5 stars. By turns touching, inspirational, torturous, haunting, funny, emotional, it is a gem of a movie.
Second, I’m not sure why people say this is Herzog’s most mainstream film ever – ‘cuz it’s in English and he uses English-speaking actors? Some scenes totally reminded me of Aguirre: Wrath of God – and Steve Zahn in certain lights actually looks like Klaus Kinski’s body double, what with the bulging eyes, fair head of hair, and look of insanity to him. All a good thing. He retains all of the great “Herzogian” themes I’ve come to love – man against nature. I haven’t seen Herzog’s acclaimed documentary on the same subject of Dieter Dengler, “Little Dieter Needs to Fly,” but I can’t wait to see it now. It’s also not a film about war. In fact, the Vietnam War hadn’t started yet at the time these events happened. There are no politics – just a wonderful story.
Third, the actors are more than wonderful. I’d heard plenty of critics saying this is Christian Bale’s best acting ever – and he ain’t no shrinking violet. I still remember him as a kid in Empire of the Sun and just being blown away by the complexity of the role. Not many actors could play this very complicated role – he’s inspirational, but not self-consciously so. The scenes aren’t just of the POW camp, but after that, his fight with the forces of nature are much more difficult to overcome it seems than his fight with his human wardens. Once again, Bale (and the supporting cast) take some serious punishment to their bodies to portray Dieter Dengler lost in the Laotian and Vietnamese jungles – not just malnourishment, sleep deprivation, leeches and the like, but mental torture also (hallucinations, the uncertainty of whether they will ever be rescued). If Bale and Zahn don’t get Oscar noms for acting this year, I will be PISSED. Their acting performances are some of the best I’ve seen in an American-produced
motion picture in a long time. Nothing cheesy and over-the-top. We felt their torture, we felt their highs and lows, we felt their gratification. I should also mention the great banter among the POWS, yet nothing seems cheesy or “Hollywoodized.”
Finally, the director of photography did an outstanding job with this, and I’m sure Herzog had a big hand in this, as there are both the wonderful vistas of lush, green jungle, but also up close – the smothering, machete-resistant, entangling jungle that’s winding to get through. The scenes of the rushing river and Dieter and Duane upon it are great too. The villages, huts, and portraits of the Laotians and Vietnamese are realistic also. The music works very well. I defy anyone who sees this not to feel like they’re Dieter Dengler, low in his low points, high in his high points, and just to be swept up into the clouds watching this film like Dieter in his fighter plane.
Final Rating: 4 stars.
Audrey
