The Hunting Party

Just got back from the premiere at Venice, where a huge round of applause acknowledged the film's quality as well as Richard Gere's enduring star status.

As society and modern youth get serious again, so Hollywood follows the trend, as movies tackle war corruption and hypocrisy following Clooney, Gore et al's lead. Shephard manages to combine thriller with humour and quips without it becoming a cheesy Lethal Weapon type ride. That's due mainly to sterling performances from Gere, reinvigorates after The Hoax, and Howard, showing a comic side after the intensity of 'Crash' Jesse Eisenberg also looks like this role was written for him personally, and the remaining cast are appropriate. The crisp, realistic docu-direction, mainstreamed by Paul Greengrass, has exerted its influence and fits neatly into this film without looking forced.

Therefore, it works - it brings a serious issue to attention with humour, compassion and enough adrenaline to remind one of the risks some people take with their lives for their causes, when most of us take the cosy path of least resistance.

In 1995, the reckless but efficient war correspondent Simon Hunt (Richard Gere) and his cameraman Duck (Terrence Howard) are covering the war in Bosnia. After a massacre in a Muslin village, Simon has a meltdown live on TV; he is fired and discredited by the network and disappears in the world of journalism while Duck is promoted, working for the famous anchor Franklin Harris (James Brolin). Five years later, while covering the peace in Bosnia with Franklin and the son of the network's VP Benjamin Strauss (Jesse Eisenberg), Duck is visited by Simon who convinces his friend to chase the most wanted war criminal Boghdanovic a.k.a. The Fox (Ljubomir Kerekes), who has a five million dollar reward, for an interview. Ben joins the group in a journey to Celebici, in the border of Republic Srpska and Montenegro. However, Simon discloses the real intention of their hunting while they are mistaken as a CIA hit squad getting into serious trouble.

"The Hunting Party" is a surprisingly funny and entertaining movie. The story denounces like in a joke the lack of interest in capturing and the dirty deals of UN, NATO, CIA and other agencies with criminals of war; Simon asks the CIA Operative how could they find The Fox in two days and CIA is not able to find him. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): Not Available

This film is about a disgraced journalist trying to hunt down the most wanted war criminal in Bosnia.

I understand that a topic like this would attract rather polarised opinion. Putting aside the historical facts or political opinion, I think this film is well made and acted. It has thrilling and comedic elements. Just as things start to get slow, there are gunshots, car chases and road blocks to pump up the action. And just when the thrill gets too much, there are fun and relaxing scenes. The ending is strong and affecting, and it sends out a strong political message (or protest) about how the West is not doing their job. Jesse Eisenberg's role as Benjamin is a little redundant, but still I thought "The Hunting Party" was a good film.

Gonzo reporting (definition): "Reporting where the journalists involve themselves so much in the story, they become the story. Normally shows an iconoclastic disregard for authority"

Yup. That's that in a nutshell...

I have to say I enjoyed it - it is immensely cynical at its core, covered with a veneer of good intentions, and is tense, very funny, well acted, and has also if extremely good at pointing out that the international community is failing to deliver worldwide. And if that gets your goat up then you're not going to be any happier once you've seen the movie.

The Hunting Party is goodly warped effort by all involved to explain the absolute lunacy that war brings out in people - both the horror and the humour. I would add that the horror in the film is not of the limbs blown off variety, but rather less blood, but unthinkable sadism is still shown without seeing the act itself, and the film concentrates on dealing more with the wretched aftermath of savageness.

The story is a simple one: a group of journalists unimpressed by their own careers, one (Terence Howard) too cushy,one (Richard Gere) washed up, and one (Jesse Eisenberg) just beginning, think they are covering the 5 year anniversary of Balkan peace and instead are convinced by Richard Gere to form a hunting party to track down and capture their own malcreant, and not just any but the big daddy of them all, and get the scoop of the century - Radoslav Bogdanović - The Fox.

They go for any number of reasons: for personal reasons, for the professional challenge, for the rewards, whatever, and off they go.

From the off the tone of the film is satirical, cynical, and laugh out loud funny - if you have any sense that the world doesn't work like you'd want it to then this is a great film to watch.

The film is populated with off the wall moments and characters but it remains watchable throughout. The three leads are nicely poised between manic madness and exhausted coolness, and it comes across as mature film-making throughout.

It is worth staying for the credits and seeing how this film supports the local Balkan film industry rather than simply shipping in the crew.

All over a really nice cynical take on the madness of war, its aftermath, and how gonzo journalism might having actually have a role to play in saving the world from blowing itself up the kazoo.

Am ı being so sensitive in my comments about films which have Islamic issues. İf so, it only means the producers has hit the target, because there is no way they forget the Muslim's feelings for their films. They sure must making some searching and speaking for the people like me we are surprised and impressed. So there are people still cares for the world, for meaningless wars, there are people on this planet hoping the sorrows will end.

The film is about three journalists seeking a war criminal who has slaughtered Muslim's in Bosnia. Richard Gere is always Richard Gere calm acting for most times, no overacting, pure acting. Hollywood's rising star Terrence Howard does a good job, a supporting team mate, giving the film all he got (as he did in "The Brave One") The story is not boring. But i warn you the scenes after slaughter have been given so dramatic that you may not dare to watch it tears a Muslim's heart apart. Except those scenes you will sure enjoy it. And you will pause the DVD in the messages in the ending part.

Films mostly are not just for entertaining now. They are communication gadgets. And they are making nations come closer, share each other's senses, try to understand.

There is unfortunately some mistakes in Islamic way of living. Why do producers keep on doing mistakes at this point although they have good intentions. One of three of the world is Muslim we all watch your films as we feel close to them. İt is hard to understand.

İt is a fine film from a brilliant director.