Zulu - Blutiges Erbe

I went to see Zulu the other night in Paris having never heard of it, but intrigued enough by the cast and the brief synopsis I read at the cinema. It was just after the death of Mandela so I liked the idea of seeing something set in South Africa. First of all- the film had me for the whole time, the premise was intriguing and both Whitaker and Bloom provide excellent tension throughout. It was well paced and fairly unpredictable. The plot here is relatively thin- they start in true film noir fashion with the murder of a girl and follows with the tried and true tradition of jaded detective partners working the case. There is not much more to it than that. However, the film is more interested in the political and social world of Cape Town, and does this pretty well whilst maintaining the gripping action. The characters also are well developed, in particular Bloom as the booze soaked apathetic detective who keeps falling deeper and deeper into the seedy underbelly he's investigating (much like a Raymond Chandler character). I have the hon our of being the first to write a review of this, I also noted that there is nothing yet on rotten tomatoes. So as the first cab out of the rank, this is a well played and watchable flick, it is flawed but with the best of intentions... A good way to spend your night!

The one serious flaw in the film is that at least half of the dialog is in Xhosa, Afrikaans, or Tswana ( or who-knows-what, South Africa having a dozen or so common languages) with no translations in the subtitles. Some of the dialog switches from English to Afrikaans in the same sentence by the same speaker. It could be said that English is the main language used, but that's just an estimate.

The two actors familiar to American viewers are Forrest Whittaker and Orlando Bloom and they also mix English and Afrikaans in the same sentences with no help in the subtitles. Entire scenes with the criminal gang members and/or the security goons speaking among themselves, conversations and not just a few words, are just unintelligible and I have no idea what is transpiring. The subtitles read "speaking foreign language". That isn't much help for viewers who don't know the language(s) being spoken.

The story suffers from this lack of translation, but the main points of the plot can be guessed, at least some of the time. Actually, it's a foreign language film (to a wide range of people no matter their main language) with no subtitles.

It's a good film, the language problem aside. The conspiracy at the heart of the story remains obscure to me. I blame that on my own lack of ability with languages and my limited imagination.

This is a very good movie. There, I said it. Let me say it again: this is a very good movie.

If I can identify one weak point, then I will point to the script that at times introduces some plot elements that rapidly fill in the blanks to advance the story. However, the script more than makes up for that minor problem by revealing complexity to the Whitaker and Bloom characters in a subtle way that makes us truly care about the two cops they portray.

Whitaker is very good, establishing a character then staying true to what he presents initially. If you like watching the mature Forest Whitaker do his thing then you will enjoy this movie.

However, to me this is Orlando Bloom's movie to carry, and he scores big time. If you are one of those that enjoys Orlando then this is a movie for you. All of that time he has spent adding to his bank account with fluffy roles has also brought him to this point where he can truly pull off a major role with skill.

Zulu is set in modern day South Africa and the portrait of that nation isn't pretty at all. Further, it is pretty easy to see that the social problems the film deals with are not only current but real and accurate. Zulu isn't just a who-done-it, but a powerful indictment of the causes of the subject crime embedded deep in 20th century history.

Like all good cop movies there is some redemption at the end so fear not in the middle, if you find yourself a little depressed. Stick it out and you will feel a little redemption yourself, maybe a little hope.

I see that the budget was $20 million and I think the producers got a great deal of worth for their investment. Problematic I guess is distribution of a cop film set in South Africa with some pretty harsh elements, at least to American audiences. Fortunately, for a few bucks in the near future you can watch it online.

Go see it if it at all sounds like your cup of tea, I promise you that you will enjoy it.

The story is set in Post-Mandela South Africa, with blacks and whites working side by side as both criminals and cops. The central mystery is the solution of a mysterious drug that hits the shack lined streets of the poor black neighborhoods who have seen little change in their poverty with the onset of the "rainbow nation", plus the mysterious disappearance of young black pre-teen boys. There is only violence as a solution; between criminals, between conflicting police officers and a vicious and extremely equal battle between good and evil.

Orlando Bloom does "edgie" as well as Colin Farrell, and that's saying a lot. He's a callous ladies man who contrasts nicely with Forest Whitakers mysterious sexuality. Bloom's character is a lost soul seeking redemption. Forest Whitaker is almost saintly in his forgiveness of the terrible wrongs done to him in childhood (shown in horrifying flashback). Both characters change, grow, suffer and adapt. There are excellent female roles; Forest Whitakers black mom, Orlando Blooms ex-wife who can't completely give up on him, an ambitious black geek detective who earns her place in a man's world by ingenious computer detective work, and a taunting stripper who captures Forest Whitakers attention. There are even excellent female supporting roles; a casual witness who uses Orlando Bloom for sex and not the other way around, and one of the nastiest female villains to ever point an assault rifle. Even secondary villains and police are memorable This is not a formula movie, where you know everything that will happen in the first 10 minutes. It's an intelligent action movie that keeps you guessing until the very end. You can watch Zulu several times, and continually catch more and more minute plot twists, amazing scenes depicting the beauty and squalor of South Africa and the importance of walk on characters that contribute to the depth of the movie. It just keeps getting better and better.

Wow! Hollywood is expanding and seeking out new environments. This time Orlando Bloom and Forest Whittaker are sent to South Africa - into a dark the sinister Apartheid leftovers.

Great acting by both of them. Great photo and great plot. Violent, although probably not violent enough to do the setting justice, and grim. Tough lives and tough country. No country for weak men.

Please make more of this kind. Please allow the actors from the Lord of The Ring, and such, to really show what they are capable of - instead of hiding behind special effects.

See it!

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