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70 out of 93 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.
74 out of 118 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.
45 out of 70 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
40 out of 61 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.
29 out of 41 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.
46 out of 79 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.
29 out of 49 people found the following comment useful :- Sick damn racist fantasy, 27 January 2008 Author: erothbart from United States
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...
24 out of 40 people found the following comment useful :- Primitive, cheap screen writing & directing, 15 January 2008 Author: gylgamesh from Branagan, Michigan, USA
'The Hunting Party (2007)' is full of cheap stereotypes and I don't mean the political ones. I could not find one original scene, character or script line throughout the whole 104 minutes.Richard Shephard delivered a great story with 'The Matador (2005)', but he should have dug deeper into his creativity pool here.After reading the movie tag line anyone can predict everything that is going to happen in it so why waste the time and money for it?At 59 Richard Gere should decide much more carefully which movie projects he commits himself to. 'The Hunting Party (2007)' was a clear and total waste of his time. I guess he wanted to put his name to the good cause of finding the remaining worst war criminals from the Balkan Wars and maybe such a fun superficial action film will help it, but that won't change the fact that this is the worst Gere film to date!
6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :- The tragedies of Bosnia and Serbia., 11 February 2008 Author: george catsicadellis from South Africa
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.
4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :- I didn't ask my husband to pause once when leaving the room, 31 May 2009 Author: noladoll from United States
This film was schizophrenic. It was trying to be a cliché sidekick action flick and make a serious political statement at the same time. It failed at both.First of all, you would never believe the two of these people (Gere and Howard) would ever be friends. Howard, who is a witness to Gere's pregnant girlfriend's brutal murder, doesn't act like this matters until half way through the movie. Then, it hits him. The acting and dialog is hideously weak by all parties. The fact that these three people overtly roam around a dangerous country, unarmed, haphazardly, is just beyond believability.Secondly, there is nothing in this film that truly educates the viewer about the horrors of what happened there.That being said, it is just this side of watchable on a Sunday night with no better choices.
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