nick_elliston

Firstly, I enjoyed this film which, despite all the star names, is somewhat forgotten.

However, IMO there are too many stars and as a result the film is somewhat disjointed. There are too many sub-stories and as a result it turns out more like a mini soap/melodrama.

Wayne carries this film. His presence is really the only "glue" that holds the film together. Considering all the other star names involved this is quite a feat and demonstrates what made Wayne the star that he was.

I also think In Harms Way suffered from being made at the wrong time. WW2 films made either during the war or in the years soon after generally had a gritty realism borne out of memories still being very fresh. This realism resurfaced years later in films such as Saving Private Ryan and Thin Red Line, but for much of the intervening period this realism was lost and the 60's was a prime period for that. There were very enjoyable WW2 films made in that period such as Great Escape and Von Ryans Express, but these were generally as much rollicking good adventure films as much as war films.

I don't think In Harms Way has either the gritty realism or adventurism and it therefore suffers as a result. Trying to incorporate so many stars also makes it longer than it needed to be. I enjoyed the film, but it could and should have been better.

The first part is a hard hitting thriller with Clooney and Tarantino as a pretty obnoxious couple, but with a sense of humour. Hard to envisage them as brothers though unless one of the parents was totally different to the other.

The second part is a horror film with Clooney, Keitel etc taking on a bunch of vampires.

Overall fairly good as a bit of mindless entertainment. I enjoyed the second half more than the first.

Decent performances by all the leads but hardly stretching.

That dance by Salma though ... WOW

Saw this for the first time on a minor TV channel recently. Essentially a romantic film, and casting JL as a police officer may indicate that this is a police thriller, which it is not.

It is fairly apparent at an early stage what Jim Cavaziel's past hides, and JL coming to terms with her past is the more complex aspect of the film.

I can only recall seeing Jim Cavaziel in one other film (Thin Red Line) and his performance and character here is reminiscent of his character in TRL.

Jennifer Lopez gives a fine performance. I have not seen her in many films, but she generally puts in a good performance. I think it is her choice of films which is suspect rather than her acting.

I am not a fan of romantic films, but this one is different enough to make it worth watching.