(rated PG13, 93 mins.) A Navy pilot (Owen Wilson) is shot down over enemy territory and is ruthlessly pursued by a secret police enforcer (Olek Krupa) and the opposing troops. Meanwhile his commanding officer (Gene Hackman) goes against orders in an attempt to rescue him. And rescue him and rescue him and so the story goes about a guy with relentless energy as Wilson dances his way through tankers, land mine and bullets to say the least. Hackman uses calm natural effort in commanding the screen and commanding his men. While we never care about the outcome, we get the message that “war is hell.” It’s visually transporting as we jump from one photo opportunity to another. Translation: Good camera work doesn’t make a good movie. Maybe they should have set it in Afghanistan instead of the Balkans. Kidding.
