Bajo fuego

This is one of those movies which starts out with good intentions, but somehow misses the mark at the end. Nolte is an adrenalin-junkie journalist on a mission to shoot (with his Nikon) the leader of the Sandinista rebels in the Nicaraguan war. Shades of El Cid. The rebel leader, Rafael, is dead, but Nolte photographs him to make him look alive. This has the desired effect, and the rebel forces are revitalised. Nolte, however, has to come to terms with both compromising his integrity, and the burgeoning relationship between himself and Cassidy, Hackman's former lover.

Cassidy and Hackman give performances which one has come to expect from artistes of their calibre, but for me, the real star of the movie is the music. It was worth the second trip just to revel in what must surely rank as one of Jerry Goldsmith's masterworks.

"Under Fire" is a well-written, well-acted piece, showing photo-journalists operating in the milieu of insurrections in Chad, then Nicaragua. Watching Gene Hackman, Nick Nolte and Ed Harris perform together was a treat. And the writers gave them terrific lines. "This is a great war: good guys, bad guys, and lots of cheap shrimp." I especially liked when Hackman's character asked if Nolte's character had slept with Hackman's woman when their relationship hits the skids, and Nolte answers directly, "Hell no, Alex. We're friends." And you just know Nolte's character meant it, man to man. Great moment. Also appealing was the way third-world conflicts were portrayed as global brushfires; put out one here, while another flares up over there. Using the real civil war in Somoza's Nicaragua gives the film unexpected credibility. And probably in keeping with reality, Ed Harris has several memorable scenes as a pure mercenary, a globe-trotting soldier-for-hire, who shows up where the gun-battle action is. His last line is something like "See you in Laos". The beat goes on. -ejpede

Three journalists (Nick Nolte, Gene Hackman, Joanna cassidy) covering political upheaval of the Sandinists against dictator Somoza (René Enriquez) in Nicaragua circa 1979 are involved in political intrigue during the last days of the corrupt regime . It begins in Nicaragua before it falls to a popular revolution , as in the Central American melting pot , the three newshounds -Nolte is a photo-journalist , the others news reporters- become too personally involved as the revolution boils over into fighting in the streets . Facing off the brutal battle - people versus army - it's often hard for him to stay neutral . Then the Guerillas kidnap Nolte to take a picture of the leader Rafael, who's believed to be dead. This wasn't their war but it was their story...and they wouldn't let it go! Dateline: Central America. The First Casualty of War is the Truth. Nick Nolte And Gene Hackman In A Riveting, High-Tension Thriller.

This tense and nail-biting thriller is packed with as much taut action , enjoyable message as the storyline will allow , but let down at times . Engaging and raw film being compellingly shot , adding some political moments and its allegedly wave flag of impartiality cannot obscure the tension dripping from every frame of such reconstructed immediacy . Nick Nolte, Gene Hackman and Joanna Cassidy are roving war correspondents found at the start in the process of moving from Chad to Nicaragua 1979 where things go wrong . Suffering the Nicaraguan revolt of the Sandinists and along the way , all of them become involved in a romantic triangle . ¨Under Fire¨ has its good moments starred by a superb main cast , as Nick Nolte who's terrific as photographer Russel Price who covers the civil war against president Somoza and gets drawn into the happenings , as well as Gene Hackman and Joanna Cassidy . And splendidly accompanied by nice supporting interpretations from Ed Harris as a grinning mercenary killer , Alma Martinez as a girl guerrilla , Richard Masur , Holly Palance : Jack Palance's daughter who married director Roger Spottiswoode , Enrique Lucero , Elpidia Carrillo's brief appearance , René Enriquez as dictator Somoza, all of them make their marks . And special mention for French actor Jean-Louis Trintignant , but you have to wade through a bit of sludge to get them . The movie belongs to sub-genre that abounded in the 80s about reporters all around the world covering dangerous political conflicts , such as Indonesia in ¨The Year of Living Dangerously¨(1982) by Peter Weir with Mel Gibson , Sigourney Weaver, Linda Hunt ; Salvador in ¨Salvador¨ by Oliver Stone with James Woods and James Belushi, and Libano in ¨Deadline¨ by Nathaliel Gutman with Christopher Walken and Hywel Bennett.

It packs a picturesque and evocative cinematography shot on stunning locations in Chiapas, Mexico , Oaxaca City , Oaxaca State, Mexico , splendidly photographed by cameraman by John Alcott . As well as imaginative and stirring musical score by the great Jerry Goldsmith , including Central America sounds and folklore . The motion picture was competently directed by Roger Spottiswoode , though it draws some gaps . Robert has made decent and successful films of all kinds of genres , such as : ¨Terror Train , Under Fire , The Best of Times , Turner and Hooch , Air America , Stop or My Mother will Shot , And the Band Played On, Tomorrow Never Dies , God's Favorite , The 6th Day¨and several others . The flick will appeal to Nick Nolte and Gene Hackman fans . Well worth seeing . Rating : 7/10 , better than average .

Some reviewers compare this film with Oliver Stone's fine Central American film, Salvador (1986). That's a legitimate comparison, but my feeling is that films should be primarily judged on their own merits. In that sense, Under Fire succeeds superbly, not least because of the first-rate staging. The peasant favelas are real slums, desolate, degraded, and perfect backdrop for the grassroots revolution underway in 1970's Nicaragua. It's easy to see why the Sandinista revolt would succeed even against the armed might of an American sponsored tyrant (Somoza). The movie makes a point of showing ready peasant support for anti- government personnel and even non-government journalists like the Americans. However, more contrast between the despoiled favelas and Somoza's swanky uptown precincts would have been even more powerful. Still, Somoza's gilded mistress, Miss Panama, does speak volumes.

The story itself is well-woven into the larger political backdrop, no easy accomplishment. At first, the three American journalists take their new Nicaragua assignment as just another war to cover and maybe a chance to win a few more awards. Russell (Nolte), in particular, can't seem to get beyond his camera shutter. To him, the human drama unfolding might be on a planet far away, while he snaps one frame after another. But then he is a journalist, with a set of professional ethics. If he takes sides in any dispute, then his work can no longer be trusted. Same for print journalist Alex (Hackman) and interviewer Claire (Cassidy). So the conflict between natural empathy for the downtrodden and oath to the profession sets up the basic conflict. Russell, in particular, is pinned on the horns of the conflict when rebels ask him to fake a photograph of their iconic leader, Rafael. I needn't reveal how the conflict plays out, except, crucially, it does resolve in a credible manner.

The acting is also first-rate. Too bad the three principals were passed over for Oscar nominations. In my little book, Nolte particularly shines in an understated role that could easily have gone over the top. And happily Cassidy's Claire avoids any hint of glamor, yet still manages a magnetic presence. At the same time Hackman has perhaps the most difficult role. His Alex must waver between friendship with Russell and attraction to Claire, while having to choose which political side he's on. Nonetheless, he brings them off persuasively. Still, I certainly don't envy Harris' thankless role as the unscrupulous opportunist, Oates. Apparently he thinks just being an American in a Third World country excuses everything.

Note in passing, the aerial leaflet drop, the only way, I suppose, the rebels have of mass communication since the government controls the media. And shouldn't overlook the two vintage rattletraps our journalists are stuck riding in. The tin jalopies get shot, cannonaded, slammed, and still they roll over debris strewn streets like real troupers. So, hats off to Detroit's finest!

Anyway, the movie's an expertly produced thriller of some depth. Too bad it's drifted into relative obscurity now that the political fires have lessened over time. One thing for sure—I'll bet Spottiswoode's film never screened in Reagan's White House.

If you want a documentary about the Sandinista's, go watch a documentary. If you want a thrilling love-story set around a fast-paced, intelligent script about people who want to do the best they can under difficult circumstances, then this is the film for you. Good acting, superb music, a good use of locations and atmospheres. This must be one of Nolte's best performances. Of course Rafael did not exist, but this is a movie, not a portrayal of real facts. The story works perfectly in this movie, and that is what's important. If you're looking for a flick that entertains, touches you without being too sentimental, and you like some action, then Under Fire is certainly worth seeing.