Favorite Movies-Black Hawk Down

Ridley Scott retells the true events of a mission gone bad, very bad in Somalia. US Army Ranges and Delta Force are sent in to capture the heads of the local militia who rule the region. Packing for what is presumed to be an easy mission, the military is unprepared for what is to happen. The situation deteriorates almost immediately as they take fire while trying to withdraw from their helicopters. A newbie private falls out of his helicopter while the pilot tries to avoid RPG fire. Casualties mount and confusion reigns. Ground vehicles are packed to their limits. Planned routes are cut off. Other helicopters are downed.

Josh Hartnet plays the role of the newly appoint chalk leader when an eplileptic seizure befalls their commander. Hoping to get everyone out alive is foremost in his mind as he takes his men into battle. Situations become dire as they are left to fend for themselves while waiting for long overdue reinforcements. You can almost feel the hopelessness as they fight on through the night against the onslaught of Mogadishu.

Tom Sizemore seems to play the same type of character he played in Saving Private Ryan. He non-chalantly walks along the battlefield as rounds whizz by and men are trying to take cover. Cool under fire is an understatement. Battle-hardened or foolish, thats not for me to say.

Great execution of the movie, the gritty realness of the events, and white knuckle action ranks this up there with Saving Private Ryan, another one of my favorites.