Bruce Willis’ role in Hart’s War can be gleaned entirely from looking at the film’s promotional poster; his picturesque army hat, salute and stoic expression rarely leave him during his short time onscreen. But the poster is also misleading, because it fails to reveal that Willis only plays a supporting role, and that the film itself is not a war story.

The titular Hart is actually Lieutenant Hart (Colin Farrell), an American soldier taken prisoner by the Germans near the end of World War II. His POW camp is ruled by an unintentionally humorous German colonel and Willis’ Col. McNamara. Shortly after Hart begins his stay at the camp, the arrival of two black pilots creates racial tension among the inmates of the camp. The uneasiness results in two deaths and a court-martial trial, in which Hart is called upon to represent and defend one of the black men.

Director Gregory Hoblit and screenwriters Billy Ray and Terry George, working from John Katzenbach’s novel, desperately try to create a movie that is both a courtroom drama and a war story, though they lack the prerequisite fighting of a war movie and the judicial aspects of a compelling courtroom drama. Furthermore, the film’s message about honor and courage is blatantly spelled out; for the moviegoer who might miss the lesson, a voiceover describes how the protagonist is now able to tell his son the true meaning of the words for which he fights. These transparent aspirations infuse the movie with a sense of a proffering, as if the director was seeking approval. Hoblit, however, does have a mastery of subtlety; a persistent lack of brightness in the film and continual use of dirty white against dark set the mood and pace for the audience. Hoblit, whose previous work includes the more impressive Frequency, seems to be a very deliberate director and gives the impression that you are seeing exactly and only what he intends for you to see.

Hart’s War begins slowly, almost dreamily as a voiceover accompanies grainy snow imagery. The movie follows Hart as he is transported to the POW camp where he meets McNamara and eventually begins his role as legal defender. Yet the court-martial portion of the film does not begin for some time, leaving the viewer confused as to where the movie is headed. While these ending scenes might be the essence of the movie, the beginning is more compelling and believable. When the court-martial and subsequent war-related scenes begin, Hoblit switches from showing to telling, and the former is more effective.

The breakout star of the film is in fact Farrell, a relative unknown from Ireland who gives an impressive performance as the son of a senator who is shielded from the front line but not from confrontational situations in the POW camp. Farrell, as well as Marcel Iures (who plays German Col. Wilhelm Visser) and Terrence Howard (who plays Hart’s client), all upstage Willis’ colonel. In fairness to Willis, however, his character is much less dynamic than his German counterpart or his subordinates. While these other three characters each get the chance to glorify their position with a speech, Willis never utters more than a few lines, all delivered in the same manner. Interestingly enough, both Hart and McNamara sport scars on their left cheeks, one of the subtle details that accent the movie. The minor members of the cast are also skilled in their parts and effectively exhibit a German POW feel.

The racial issues discussed in Hart’s War represent another of the film’s strong points. In a poignant monologue, one of the accused soldiers discusses how German POWs were allowed in Georgian movie theaters and diners, whereas he himself was not allowed to enter, even while in uniform. The discrepancy between the American quest to end the Nazi racial program and its own discriminatory racial policy in America’s mainland is a harrowing concept that is nicely illustrated in the film.

Although Hart’s War is intended to demonstrate that honor and courage can exist in different forms, what it really shows is that a movie cannot be completely successful if it attempts too many different forms: in this case a war epic, a courtroom drama, a cinematographic masterpiece and a parable. Hart’s War may have many excellent components, but it does not fit together in a cohesive whole.

film

Hart’s War

Directed By Gregory Hoblit

Starring Bruce Willis, Colin Farrell

MGM Pictures