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Bruce Willis brings his instinctive authority to the role of an American colonel imprisoned by the Nazis in this edge-of-the-seat thriller, an effective commingling of elements from war movies, courtroom dramas, and murder mysteries. Based on a novel by whodunit specialist John Katzenbach, Hart’s War unfolds entirely within the confines of a German prisoner-of-war camp: New arrival Lt. Tom Hart (Colin Farrell) is assigned by commanding officer Colonel William McNamara (Willis) to defend an African-American pilot accused of killing a racist fellow inmate. Camp commandant Visser (Marcel Iures), amused by the prospect of seeing American military justice in action, has sanctioned a trial -- but he is unaware that McNamara is using the sideshow to cover an elaborate sabotage plan. Director Gregory Hoblit (Primal Fear) initially steers the film as if it were just another prison-camp drama, but he shifts gears when the trial gets underway and it becomes apparent that the pilot might be innocent after all. Colin Farrell handles a demanding role with just the right measure of skepticism, but it’s Willis who dominates the screen with an understated turn as the crafty C.O., for whom the trial is just another chess move in a potentially deadly game with his brilliant, cynical Nazi counterpart. After getting off to a slow start, Hart’s War becomes a tense thriller that will bring you to the edge of your seat and keep you there. Willis and Hoblit supply a commentary for the DVD, which also includes deleted scenes, photo galleries, and theatrical trailers. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

Based on the novel by John Katzenbach, author of Just Cause (1995), this prison camp drama combines elements of A Soldier's Story (1984) and the classic Stalag 17 (1953). Colin Farrell stars as Lt. Tommy Hart, a second-year Harvard Law School student who enlists to fight in World War II but ends up being taken prisoner by the Germans. When a murder at the Nazi-run Stalag Luft 13 leaves a black Tuskegee airman named Lt. Lincoln Scott (Terrence Dashon Howard) accused of the crime, high-ranking prisoner (and fourth-generation war hero) Col. William McNamara (Bruce Willis) persuades camp commandant Col. Werner Visser (Marcel Iures) to allow the prisoners to hold their own trial. Hart is recruited to defend his fellow officer, but as he reluctantly investigates, he discovers that not all of his fellow allied soldiers are fighting the same war and that his "client" may well have been framed. In the meantime, it becomes apparent that McNamara is using events to mask his true intent, a mission to destroy a nearby munitions plant that he still intends to carry out despite his incarceration. Hart's War (2002) co-stars Vicellous Shannon, Cole Hauser, Rory Cochrane, and Jonathan Brandis. Karl Williams

Hollywood Reporter

A well-made, solidly acted drama that essentially eschews louder actions in favor of fighting words. Michael Rechtshaffen

New York Observer

An exciting, thoughtful and adrenaline-pumping war picture that is provocative and different. Rex Reed

Product Details

• UPC: 027616877284
• Source: MGM (VIDEO & DVD)
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1), Cinemascope (2.35:1)
• Presentation: Pan & Scan, Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English, Français, Español, Portugais
• Subtitles: English, Français, Español, Portugais
• Time: 2:05:00
• Sales Rank: 23,975

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Out of Time / Hart's War
• Bandits / Hart's War
• Bruce Willis Triple Feature

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