Basic

Rating:
Summary: A mediocre movie that simply does not make sense
Review: The story is set deep in the Panama jungles, six rangers under the command of Sgt. West went on a training mission in the midst of a hurricane, but only two returned. Basic follows the exploits of Tom Hardy, an ex-army special force personnel brought in by the base commander to find out as much information as possible in regards to the events transpired during that period, before Washington is alerted of the situation. As time is running out, he must find a way to gain the cooperation of the survivors, and to sieve the truths from the lies.

'Deception is their most dangerous weapon.'

Misdirection employed subtly and tastefully can work to great advantage for a movie, such as the ones in The Usual Suspects. Unfortunately, Basic's blatant use of this device is ultimately the reason why the film failed to work. By the time a third version of what took place at the time of the exercise is told, it becomes so obvious that this account is just as preposterous as the previous two. Instead of applauding at the cleverness of the plot twists, I often wondered to myself when will they finally get to the point and address some of the loose details previously introduced in the story. There were some interesting angles that could have been explored further, but apparently the movie was more concerned about uncovering a conspiracy that is both ridiculous and unbelievable. The funniest thing about Basic is that for a film that spent a good amount of its running time searching for the so-called truth, the premise of the movie was never adequately resolved, and the payoff at the end is as unsatisfying as it is shallow.

Luckily, the acting in Basic is fairly solid all around. John Travolta returns to fine form playing the resourceful and charismatic Tom Hardy. Demonstrating his versatility in the portrayal of his role, Travolta is sometimes flamboyant, other times humorous, but constantly engaging and a treat to watch. . Connie Nielsen is likeable enough as Lt. Julia Osborne, the head of the military police at the base. However, her character lacks depth and seems to function simply as a way to build the sexual tension between the two leads. To be fair, Travolta and Nielsen did have good chemistry together, as well as providing the audiences with couple of good laughs. Basic also reunites Travolta with co-star Samuel L. Jackson since their memorable performances in Pulp Fiction. Even though Jackson does a decent job as the hard-nosed Sgt. Nathan West, he was not on screen nearly as much as I would've liked to see.

Basic is a convoluted movie that has one too many twists for its own good. A poorly scripted plot that made very little sense ruined what could have been an excellent suspense film, something that even a talented cast as this one couldn't save. Don't go in with a high expectation and you might not walk away disappointed, otherwise, I would recommend you skip Basic altogether.

Rating:
Summary: ridiculous plot twists turn "basic" into hectic
Review: Typically, a good suspense movie ties all it's loose ends at the conclusion. For instance, at the end of "the sixth sense" you feel as shocked as Willis' character that you didn't figure it out sooner. Not the case here. At this "climactic" conclusion, you don't know what to believe. An over abundance of plot twists (without reasonable explanations) hampered what could have been an entertaining story line. This was combined with an ending that was so light-hearted and ridiculous, even Travolta sat looking troubled and confused at the outcome he was involved in. The movie's intent may have been to get people talking about it. Here they have succeeded. For with so few concrete facts, the entire movie becomes a matter of opinion. Yet, much like the movie itself, the more you discuss the un-answered questions, the more un-answered questions you find. No doubt upon it's DVD release a "directors cut" will be offered, that promises to make sense of the theatrical release. So your best bet would be to wait until then and just rent it.

Rating:
Summary: "Basic" Rules!
Review: I loved this movie, it is a must see twice to appreciate it type movie (mainly because of the surprise ending), but worth seeing again! The plot is convoluted, but keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way to the final scene. John Travolta is funny, charming, and charismatic, and I will probably go see this movie at least two more times to be able to totally appreciate the plot. No, you will never be able to figure out who's the bad guy, who's the good guy, and what really happened (or didn't) but it isn't a mystery, so who cares! I like to see movies that are "entertaining", I'm not looking for some deep story, etc, and entertaining it is!

Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful Military Mystery
Review: This film is interesting and suspenseful the entire way through. Both clever and well written it tells the story of a military training mission gone wrong from the perspective of several different officers. The cast of characters are great with the best performances by John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Giovanni Ribisi and Harry Connick Jr.

If you are looking for a military movie this will satisfy you but it takes more credit as a murder mystery. It is gripping, intriguing and a great whodunit with a twist that is unpredictable at the end. Highly entertaining and well worth the ride.

Rating:
Summary: Twist
Review: Basic is a movie about a supposed training accident involving marines and a hated sargeant played by Samuel L Jackson. Drug agent John Travolta (slim in this movie) is asked to figure it out with the help of Nielsen. The way he plays the suspects is interesting but everyone tells their own story. Then the trouble starts, because no one knows what the truth is and everyone seems to be involved.

It's a soldier story with a twist, be sure to watch the last 5 minutes.

Rating:
Summary: Very intriguing and suspenseful
Review: Besides Identity, Basic is probably one of the best, well-made drama/suspense films I've seen. Roles were well casted; Samuel L. Jackson always makes a good, hardened army soldier, and John Travolta makes a good investigator who is very quick, nimble, if not full of mystery. I will admit it has taken a few times to watch to fully understand everything this rich plot had to offer. I would say my only reason for a 4 was the language... I usually don't mind language, but please take note this film as language-ridden like none other before it. For me it was a bit too much than what the film really called for.

However, weighing everything, this is a good film worth it's money.

Rating:
Summary: Trick or Treat?
Review: One's enjoyment of this movie probably will be determined by one's tolerance for being somewhat "cheated" by the screenwriter and director. If you don't mind a certain degree of dishonesty in the service of plot and surprise (and don't mind John Travolta), you'll probably rate this higher than I did. On the other hand, if you believe that a well done thriller by definition has to play fair with its audience, you'll likely feel manipulated and, yes, cheated.

This is one of those films that are difficult to discuss without spoiling the plot. Suffice it to say that I found the production values first rate, and the sound and action sequences generally well done. I don't mind Travolta, like Connie Nielsen, and wasn't too put off by a fairly cliched performance by Samuel Jackson as the (usual) hard-bitten Sergeant.

However, the movie cannot stand up to close analysis of the plot and its various devices. Sins against the viewer are committed by the screenwiter and director--the principle one being that characters who are shown to have certain knowledge at the end do not act consistently with that knowledge throughout.

That's all I'm going to say except that having the DVD will enable you to replay some of the scenes sufficiently to see the extent to which the viewer has been manipulated. There is honest and clever manipulation that always takes place in good thrillers, but this movie, while clever in spots, isn't very honest.

Rating:
Summary: Highly underrated- a real brain-twister
Review: If you don't like to think while you're watching a movie then stop reading this and go rent some overblown blockbuster. Basic is an incredible movie with more viable twists than I've seen in any other movie. It's fun to watch it multiple times simply to try to figure out how it all fits together (which, I assure you, it does). I can't help but like Travolta in this movie, and Jackson is always great. Critics panned the movie in theaters- more proof that critics actually don't think themselves- but everyone I've shown it to has enjoyed it. If you like suspense/mystery, then don't miss this one.

Rating:
Summary: Dark and twisty
Review: Twist-wise this is a heckuvagreat movie. It's a steaming, down and dirty whodunnit-to-who under the guise of an army training exercise gone wrong. A Special Force team goes into the jungles of Panama, under the supervision of Samuel L. Jackson (West,) but they don't all come out. The onus of finding out what happened falls on Connie Nielsen (Osborne), but then Tim Daly (Styles) brings in John Travolta (Hardy) to take over the investigation.

It's not Travolta's best role, but he does a passable Hardy, the great inquisitor. Connie Nielsen steals most of the movie, even though her accent grates on the nerves sometimes, but otherwise she's got what it takes. Timothy Daly is good for most of the movie (until the end), and there just isn't enough Samuel L. Jackson to go around.

Poor Giovanni Ribisi - he must be really tired of being type-cast by now. He plays the same role, once again, for the umpteenth time.

My problem with the movie is that a lot of the scenes are shot out of focus and in the dark - so it's hard to figure out who's doing what to whom most of the time. (My copy didn't have sub-titles, and the close-captioning was pathetic, so that didn't help much)

Any attempt to summarize the plot would contain spoilers, so I won't. Spending a few hours on this 3.5 star movie, wouldn't be time wasted.

Amanda Richards, February 25, 2005



Rating:
Summary: Travolta and Jackson Together Again
Review: Director John McTiernan's "Basic" highlights the team of John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson working together for the first time since their blockbuster "Pulp Fiction." Initially it appears that they are polar opposites with Travolta playing a seemingly laid back, unconventional Drug Enforcement Agency agent and Jackson as a no nonsense, spit and polish disciplinarian Army Ranger sergeant.

Set in Panama, the film is all about appearances and reality as emotions shift back and forth as do opinions with the story being framed in a series of flashbacks representing various viewpoints. Jackson has supposedly been killed by one or more of his men after a rain-soaked war drill in the jungle. Travolta, who had served under Jackson as a Ranger, is called in to question the initial prime suspect in the sergeant's death.

Travolta immediately encounters resistance from provost marshal's office representative Connie Nielsen, who believes in following formal procedures, a technique anathema to the highly unconventional Travolta. At one point when she is shouting at the suspect in an attempt to break him down, Travolta infuriates Nielsen by telling him that he will not insult his intelligence by engaging in a typical "good cop-bad cop" dialogue.

The investigators soon learn that there is a drug smuggling operation occurring on the base. What makes matters even more ticklish is that the ringleader is none other than the officer in charge of the hospital, played by Harry Connick Jr., who also happens to be Nielsen's steady love interest. When attention shifts to another suspect it is learned that he is the gay son of a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "There goes don't ask, don't tell," Travolta quips after the suspect reveals his sexual preference.

The contrast between the loose and freewheeling Travolta and the military formality of Jackson and Nielsen gives the story a lot of its dramatic punch. Long before the surprise twist ending the audience is aware that the main story ploy relates to appearances and reality and to not believe what one hears before plenty of corroboration.