BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Released: November 30, 2001
Owen Wilson, in just one of three movies all released within a month of each other, slips easily into action hero mode for "Behind Enemy Lines" from new director John Moore. A Navy pilot (Wilson) is shot down over enemy territory and is ruthlessly pursued by a secret police enforcer and the opposing troops. Meanwhile his commanding officer (played by Gene Hackman, whom Wilson also acts with in "The Royal Tenenbaums") goes against orders in an attempt to rescue him. Although the plot bears similarities to events that actually happened, this is fully fictional. The ensuing action is somewhat predictable but is made entertaining by seeing an "everyman" in the form of Wilson fight himself out of a nasty situation that a different pilot may not have. Highly visual, director Moore gives us beautiful views and horrifying images, some of which must have pretty tough to film. The special effects and pyrotechnics are in top form here and make for very entertaining search and rescue mission of a movie.
105 Minutes
20th Century Fox