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47 out of 62 people found the following comment useful :-
Let the film take you where it will and you'l have a good time, 23 December 2007

Author: dbborroughs from Glen Cove, New York

Based on a true story of a trio of Journalists looking for a war criminal in the former Yugoslavia. The Original group included Jon Krakauer, in the movie we have Terrence Howard and Richard Gere. Where originally it started as a bunch of journalists getting drunk and deciding to go out and find the bad guys, here we have Gere as a washed up TV reporter convincing his old camera man and a network executive (who got the job because of nepotism) that he can get an interview with "the Fox" if they are willing to go along with him. They go and things instantly begin to go side ways as nothing is as it seems and no one believes they aren't with the CIA. Not to put too fine a point on it I really liked this film a great deal. Its witty intelligent with lots of likable characters and a real sense of both humor and reality.Its probably three quarters of one of the most enjoyable films of the year (even with the nastiness.) What can I say I'm a sucker for great buddy films and Terrence Howard and Richard Gere have an ease when together that makes you certain that they have been friends for decades. Its magical. If there is a problem with the film its that the film kind of loses steam toward the end. Somewhere the need for an "ending" kind of gets in the way of things and the film begins to be a bit less...I don't know, fun. Don't get me wrong its still better than many other recent films, but its just disappointing that things have to be "neat". Of course the pre-final credits explanation of whats real and what isn't a scream. See this movie, thats all I have to say. See it and go with its vibe and I think you'll have a good time.

And forgive me for being spotty about things since I'm trying not to say too much since not knowing what happens is part of the joy.

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63 out of 98 people found the following comment useful :-
Hollywood's political conscience continues to grow........, 6 September 2007

Author: rehman-amer from United Kingdom

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.

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29 out of 39 people found the following comment useful :-
A Better Than Average Movie, 9 January 2008

Author: petsteph1 from Taiwan

It's good to see Richard Gere again. And his co-star is a fine actor. The story is good, the direction is good, you wont be disappointed - in fact you might wonder why you didn't hear about this movie before. Hollywood produces some good things and some dross; this is one of the good ones and politics must have dictated the release date, not the quality of the product, because it leaves many of the seasonal releases in the dust. This movie is about Bosnia, which most people find easier to forget. I was there in the early 90s and liked it a lot - and then the criminals came. Watch the movie - you wont regret it. I gave it a 7 and it might appeal more than that.

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22 out of 30 people found the following comment useful :-
Excellent satire, 21 January 2008

Author: (emir2ema@aol.com) from United States

Many people have a problem with this movie due to its political stance. Myself, being from Bosnia and Herzegovina could possibly mean that I would be biased toward this movie. But first let us look at it from the technical perspective.

The movie is very well done. There is a quiet long prologue in the beginning that eases the audience in. If you'd like to compare it to something, compare it to Snatch or Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. It's gritty and feels independent. Pacing and editing work hand in hand which compels for a good viewing. Personally I was blown away by both Terrence Howard and Richard Gere. Both of them give layered, almost nuanced performances, and their characters are very true to life. Many many props to the writer and the director.

From the political perspective, I wish the movie ended like this in real life. Radovan Karadzic (in this movie called Bogdanovic) was a murderer, thief and a sadist, and he still remains at large, even today publishing books and plays. The movie brings up a good point. How come the all powerful united countries of the world, starting with USA, France, England and going to Germany cannot find a dirty rat like Karadzic in a country size of West Virginia. It is not that they can't, but they won't. The movie doesn't beat around the bush (thank you for this Mr. Shepard), but it rather takes a strong stance on the side of justice, common sense and humanity. It states some very obvious terms such as, that there is a possibility that the western nations have struck a deal with Karadzic, if he stops fighting, he won't be captured.

The movie is full of heart, emotion. it is funny, sad, gritty and full of hope.

Again, my hat's off to you Mr. Shepard

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28 out of 47 people found the following comment useful :-
Enjoy Sarajevo…The Hunting Party, 8 January 2008

Author: babubhaut from buffalo, ny, usa

Based on an article that was published in Esquire, The Hunting Party tells the story of three journalists—actually five as the end of the film will explain during its comical "what was true and what wasn't" montage—who took it upon themselves to find the most wanted war criminal in the world, Bosnia's "The Fox". Brought to screen by Richard Shepard, this is a movie that keeps you highly enthralled throughout. It may not be as solid a film as his previous effort, the underrated comedy The Matador, because it tries to push an agenda against all that was working for it. At its best, everything is absolutely pitch-perfect: taut thrills, suspenseful story, and great acting. As for the worst, it becomes a diatribe on how the world's governments care more about money than safety. Honestly, we all know this and don't need our entertainment to jam it into our skulls even more. Falling into a growing category for me—one that includes Blood Diamond—the end result here is a great film that just can't stop from trying to be more than it is, stumbling on its misguided mission rather than allowing its natural momentum to carry it through to the finish.

Stylistically this thing is beautiful to look at. I enjoyed the use of freeze-frames during the exposition scenes and the moments in warzones come across as real, dangerous, and above all else exciting. The joy and genuine laughter emitting from our leads after they narrowly escape death over and over again adds to the code of living life to the fullest that they both follow. Shepard holds some cards close to his chest also, showing us events leading up to Simon Hunt's breakdown, all but killing his career, however not explaining the entire story until absolutely necessary. Each character's motives aren't exactly the same towards the end as they were in the beginning. What's first a quest for redemption (Hunt), youthful vibrancy (Duck), and an excuse to show his father that he is made of more than a cushy Harvard school lifestyle (Benjamin) soon becomes a mission to do the right thing. These men are fighting for civility and humanity, two things that have left that part of the world and is in desperate need for return.

One can't fault any of our journalistic trio for anything they may find wrong with the final product. Richard Gere is spectacular as the fallen reporter, who we will eventually find has lost more than just his career. The desperation is always true and his actions perfectly played against the more sane members of the troupe. Terrence Howard shows us how great he can be and makes us wonder why he still feels the need to choose some god-awful movies between his good ones. The transformation he takes, in just a few short cuts, is rather staggering while essential to his role's motives later on. Going from an adrenaline junkie cameraman to a stand-in executive whose field work entails setting up outside the White House and Capital Hill almost makes you wonder how he ever could have changed so much. Then you think about the money, the security, and the relaxation time and soon the concept seems too good for anyone to pass up. The taste of danger never left, however, and it is his wrestling with that, by using some nicely timed humor, that helps carry the story to its conclusion. As for the boss's son, on his first foreign correspondence, Jesse Eisenberg epitomizes the book-smartass attitude someone in that position would have. It is his willingness to learn and bullheaded mindset to not let these two guys do anything to make him out to be a wuss that lead him to becoming an integral part to the team and mission at hand.

Along with them, every character that is met with on the journey to find "The Fox" adds just the right amount of infused quirk needed to keep interest. While familiar faces like James Brolin and Diane Kruger play their parts well, it is a guy like Mark Ivanir as Boris the UN executive that shines. He is caught up in this imaginary scheme of CIA hit squads coming in to do that which he wishes he could. It appears he has watched too many American movies and the dream of being a real live Deepthroat seems to appeal to his sensibilities as he attempts to help the trio in their quest to find that which is never found. These bit parts bring much of the laughter and absurdity that counterbalances the abundance of drama and high emotional toll seen at every turn. The Hunting Party does not try and sugar-coat what is going on in the Balkans and pays much attention in showing the truth and not what is read in the history books, both figuratively and literally—the book in physical form during a nice scene of Howard opening the innocent eyes of Eisenberg in a bar, along with the help of four of the real-life reporters on which the film is based.

Shot with some wonderful compositions and blocking of actors to build a sense of suspense and fear, Shepard has crafted a winner. Besides a too-long scene that goes on and on about how the UN and people in power are only out to create good PR without any work going towards punishing the monsters running free, I have little to complain about. I was almost completely removed from enjoyment with the horribly trite and overused joke with the ending subtitled words, but was redeemed with the inventive "what was real" sequence. To see the humor that was bubbling under the surface for the duration stick to the screen even after the story was finished brought the smile back to my face and made me remember all that worked, letting the more wrong than right final act to dissolve into the background.

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14 out of 20 people found the following comment useful :-
A film well made, 10 February 2008

Author: Gordon-11 from Hong Kong

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.

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29 out of 50 people found the following comment useful :-
bullfrog, 26 January 2008

Author: dima_r from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This movie is a typical American propaganda. Once again, Eastern Europeans are shown as hardly groomed, beer drinking, song singing retards. Anyone who traveled outside of of the US knows that depicting of Serbia or Yugoslavia like that is obnoxiously unfair and lacks any respect for a foreign nation. And however inspired by the true story, it cannot be based on a true story... When three men (one of whom is outright out of his mind) go in the woods in attempt to capture a person guarded by the bunch of armed people... Com on people! However, it will go for a mindless time passerby. I am amazed that producers spend a lot of money for such a piece of garbage.

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7 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
Surprisingly Funny and Entertaining, 15 July 2008

Author: Claudio Carvalho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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

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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
The tragedies of Bosnia and Serbia., 11 February 2008

Author: george catsicadellis from South Africa

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This film emphasises the horrors of the Bosnian war. It emphasises the suffering of the people both Muslim and Christian who inhabited the country and who were in the centre of an ideological battle which did not benefit anyone and which tormented everyone by causing endless suffering. Again as in many films we see that war does not benefit anyone and neither does revenge. So too does outside influence by other countries serve no purpose besides to add to the confusion of the situation. All this we see through the eyes of the three journalists led by Richard Gere, who tour the countryside in seek of a good story, fame and revenge. Terrence Howard and the young Jesse Eisenberg portray their roles quite well. If you have seen Richard Gere in his many revered big screen roles, I personally feel you are going to be disappointed with his performance this time round. I expected more in comparison to his great drama roles in the past. His role in his previous film, "The Hoax" was brilliant in comparison to this one. There was just something missing if one compares his acting to his usual outstanding performance. Overall though,this is an entertaining film which is worth watching.

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13 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
Sick damn racist fantasy, 27 January 2008

Author: erothbart from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

The movie is based on few semi-true facts (actualy "facts" arising from political propaganda) and the rest is unimaginable racist fantasy. It would be really interesting to study the mental setup of person who can stage something like this. Even Serbian old woman and children are presented here as rotten monsters! Even the famous photo of the free, naturally skinny free man standing outside of barb wire fencing for electrical switching station, which was staged to look as he is concentration camp inmate, was shown here. The civilized world is weeping for humanists to step in and convict this artifact of hater. It is unimaginable that this comes from nation which claims leadership in the "civilized world"...And about the facts? Not even important...This is supposed to be KKK fun...

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