There’s no denying that war movies have always been popular. However, the genre underwent a resurgence of sorts in the 1990s thanks to the likes of Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, The English Patient, and The Thin Red Line. That popularity carried over into the new millennium, where movies such as Enemy at the Gates, Flags of Our Fathers, and Defiance found success as they recounted harrowing tales from the second world war. One such film starring Bruce Willis and Colin Farrell stood out among them all for being what some critics called “head and shoulders above the rest,” which makes it worth revisiting on streaming.
We’re talking, of course, about Hart’s War – the 2002 WWII drama based on the novel by John Katzenbach. Directed by Gregory Hoblit and released on February 15 of that year, it certainly didn’t make much noise at the box office, as it only managed to take in $33.1 million against a budget of $70 million. Does that mean Hart’s War is 125 minutes of your life you’ll never get back? Far from it, as it is undoubtedly one of the best films in the genre to mix war, suspense, and drama to create a movie that’s as much a legal thriller as it is about POWs.
Also starring Terrence Howard (Empire, Iron Man), Cole Hauser (Yellowstone), and Marcel Iures (Mission: Impossible), Hart’s War is an epic WWII movie that deals with themes of racism, politics, and sacrifice. Strong performances from Willis and Farrell help elevate the film, and the supporting cast – which also includes Cuba Gooding Jr. – provide an excellent dynamic that adds to the movie’s grit and intensity. For those that have never seen it, it’s currently streaming on Tubi, so it won’t cost you a dime to sit down and watch. Check out the full synopsis below:
“Lieutenant Tommy Hart (Farrell) is a second year law student who is enlisted as an officer’s aide in World War II due to his father’s political pull. When he is captured and thrown into a German prisoner of war camp, top ranking Colonel William McNamara (Willis) assigns him to defend Lieutenant Lincoln Scott (Howard), a black POW accused of murdering a fellow white prisoner.”
‘Hart’s War’ Proved to Be a Divisive WWII Movie
Like most movies, no matter the genre, Hart’s War managed to divide fans and critics upon its release. Some viewers have called it a “frustrating” film, while others have deemed it “a rare patriotic movie” that most likely wouldn’t get made today since it “focuses on American values that won our last great existential conflict.”
That being said, critics such as Rex Reed called Hart’s War an “exciting, thoughtful and adrenaline-pumping war picture that is provocative and different.” Jeffrey M. Anderson added to the praise, saying it’s a movie that “stands head and shoulders above most of the competition.” By contrast, Tom Grealis wrote:
“Hart’s War is a perfect example of a film that remains anchored in mediocrity from beginning to end. It plods along like a chronic asthmatic, meandering to a conclusion that’s both irritating and implausible.”
Of course, you’re free to make up your own mind about the movie once you’ve seen it, so it’s best not to pass judgment beforehand. You can check out Hart’s War streaming for free on Tubi.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
