Cast: Bruce Willis, Monica Bellucci, Cole Hauser, Johnny Messner, Tom Skerritt
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Producers: Ian Bryce, Mike Lobell, Arnold Rifkin
Screenplay: Alex Lasker & Patrick Cirillo
Cinematography: Mauro Fiore
Music: Hans Zimmer
U.S. Distributor: Columbia Pictures
While Tears of the Sun was in production, it was likely not intended as an allegory for the current political situation in Iraq (although the post-9/11 climate was certainly taken into consideration). However, on the possible eve of war, with the populations of so many countries deeply divided about the necessity (or lack thereof) of an armed conflict, one cannot simply brush aside the message expressed by Antoine Fuqua's film: inactivity leads to tragedy. In fact, the director employs the following well-known quote by British statesman Edmund Burke to close the film: "All that is needed for the triumph of evil is for a good man to do nothing." Regardless of whether or not this will be proven to be the case in Iraq, there's no doubt that it's true for Tears of the Sun.
The movie succeeds admirably at what it is trying to do: create a war movie for the new millennium that combines many of the old clichés with some of the darker, morally gut-wrenching realities that influenced the genre post-Vietnam. So there are times when one can imagine John Wayne inhabiting the uniform of title character A.K. Waters, while, on other occasions, the viewer is more likely to be reminded of the chaos of a Platoon or Full Metal Jacket than anything that starred The Duke. Fuqua has attempted the difficult task of fashioning a war movie that uses its backstory as more than an excuse for scenes of violent conflict.
Tears of the Sun opens with a brief voiceover explaining that Muslim rebels have staged a bloody coup in the country of Nigeria and, after assassinating the President and his family, they are in the process of encouraging the mass slaughter of Christians. The captain (Tom Skerritt) of the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman, stationed off the coast of Africa, has been ordered to send in his top team into hostile territory to evacuate Dr. Lena Hendricks (Monica Bellucci), a U.S. citizen who is in harm's way. Leading the mission is A.K. Waters (Bruce Willis), who is known for completing difficult assignments. Dr. Hendricks is easily located, but she refuses to leave unless every able-bodied individual at the mission where she is serving is allowed to accompany her. Waters initially balks, but, when he observes the horrors perpetrated by the rebels, he relents, and leads a group of several dozen refugees on a harrowing journey through the Nigerian jungle towards the safety of the Cameroon border.
The screenplay certainly isn't airtight. There are flaws in logic (and logistics) and a few nagging contrivances that I wish hadn't been necessary. And there are times when the dialogue is laughably over-the-top. This happens mercifully infrequently, however, since Tears of the Sun doesn't feature much talking. It's a movie of impressive visual imagery. Words would just get in the way. So, in its place, we have an operatic score from Hans Zimmer that employs an African flavor. (The film's digital sound mix is noteworthy. I rarely mention this sort of technical detail, but it stands out.)
Tears of the Sun has its share of effective moments. One of the most powerful occurs when passengers in a helicopter gaze down at the aftermath of a massacre. Another transpires when the soldiers enter a town that is currently being "cleansed" by the rebels. Most of the victims are beyond their help, but, in a primal act of rage, they exact revenge. Finally, there's the last, hopeless battle, which features full portions of tragedy, glory, and heroism. It's rousing, but there's also an underlying sense of poignancy.
Bruce Willis is the ideal choice to portray Waters. This is a tight, controlled performance that establishes the character as more of an everyman than a superhero. Waters is a simple soldier who obeys orders and does his duty until his conscience intervenes. From that point, we see the struggle playing out in his eyes. What happens when the paths demanded by duty and morality diverge? Willis conveys the internal battle without going over-the-top. Italian actress Monica Bellucci (Malena, Irreversible) brings fire to the part of Dr. Hendricks, and Cole Hauser is a steadying influence on Waters as his right-hand man, Red.
Much as he did with Training Day, Fuqua takes a genre picture and, by diverting the story onto an unconventional path, generates a sense of urgency. Tears of the Sun is not a great movie, but it is satisfying, and represents an example of accomplished filmmaking. The film doesn't make the same kind of bold statement about war that is evident in productions like Platoon or Apocalypse Now. But, as might be presumed from the poetic title, there's more substance to be found here than one might initially expect from a Bruce Willis action flick.
© 2003 James Berardinelli