War Stories (2003) (TV)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Robert Singer

Writer (WGA):

Peter Noah (written by)

Release Date:

31 August 2004 (Hungary)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Cast

Jeff Goldblum	...	Ben Dansmore
Lake Bell	...	Nora Stone
Louise Lombard	...	Gayle Phelan
Jeffrey Nordling	...	Ian Rhys
Noam Jenkins	...	Rainy Tamarov
Jack Dimich	...	Uzbeky Commander
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yousuf Azami	...	Guard
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Ed O'Brian
Keith Birkfeld	...	Taliban Recruit
Jason Brooks	...	Mike Skrumbis
Michael Reilly Burke	...	Coulter
Christina Chang	...	Camera Woman
Anand Chulani	...	IMU rapper
Alanna Dergan	...	Young girl
Homie Doroodian	...	Guerilla fighter
Ron Griffith	...	Taliban Guard (interviewed)
Nicholas Guilak	...	IMU Soldier
Mark Harelik
Marty Hrejsa	...	Uzbek Clerk
Ramsey Malouky	...	Uzbek Official
Patrick Roman Miller	...	Al Haddad
Navid Negahban	...	Al Qaeda Rebel at Bridge
Tony Sears	...	French Traveler (as Anthony Sears)
Richard Steinmetz	...	Andrew Thorne
Eric St. John
Antonina Thompson	...	Uzbek young mother
Ines Wurth	...	Burka Woman

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence and sexuality.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Potentially brilliant.

I wasn't expecting anything new or spectacular. I wasn' blown away by the tv-film itself, but more so by the potentiality of the program to be a series. I agree with a previous post that with the mind-numbing so-called 'reality tv' horse crap playing, a show like the example here could've been a refreshing change of pace.

Jeff Goldblum's portrayal of Ben, an experienced foreign correspondent thrown into the lawless and chaotic world of war torn countries in search for the truth, was quite fascinating. Although it isn't quite new as far as composition is concerned, for tv it works quite impressively.

I can't really imagine any other actor capable of such restrain from being overtly expressive. His reserve seems very accurate and is reminiscent of Dan Rather and Nic Robertson (CNN).

Had this film been directed by Steven Soderbergh, a probability very slim for tv productions, it would have been very fascinating. I see a very interesting neo-realism treatment to the direction, something à la Traffic.

Unfortunately, this show just isn't what it could've been. I believe, aside from the obvious plot holes, the useless subplot which for the shortness of the film's length seem to leave too many questions unanswered. A doubtful supporting cast, which appear only to count on Jeff to support them in such a way it seems forced, the show aimed at greatness, but fell short.

I believe, a reason for such a miss perhaps was using a theme that is a bit too actual. Utilizing al Qaeda as an actual reference, the 9-11 slaughter and Usamah bin Laden himself appears only a bit too disrespectful for the memory of the very unfortunate victims of terrorism. Specially so soon after the events themselves.

Basically, this feature seems more or less like an extended pilot of a terrific show with great prospects, but falls short as far as a film is concerned.