'Hart's War' a losing battle

Hart's War - R
Starring: Bruce Willis, Colin Farrell
Directed by: Gregory Hoblit In Hollywood's post Sept. 11 patriotic fervor, there was a literal invasion of War movies. Luckily, most moviegoers took a pass on "Hart's War," a dangerously flawed film. This Bruce Willis driven tank hits tons of landmines from start to finish. The film begins as Lt. Thomas Hart (Colin Farrell) is captured by Nazi forces and sent to a POW camp. There he meets the ranking captured officer Col. William McNamara who is secretly plotting to destroy a nearby ammunition plant and escape. Things get complicated when two African American soldiers are captured and mysterious murders begin to occur. The main problem with "Hart's War" is the script's schizophrenia. The film can't decide what direction it wants to go. The story simultaneously tries to be a racial struggle, prison flick and courtroom drama. Unfortunately, none of these elements come together, and the film fails to captivate. The actors don't do a great job with the material at hand. Colin Farrell amiably tries to hold the film together, but marquee star Bruce Willis seems to be going through the motions. You really don't get a chance to connect with or care about most of the characters. The worst crime the movie commits is its terrible cop out of an ending. Not all of the "Hart's War" DVD is bad. The visuals of the film do well in expressing the bleak German winter and the horrible life within a POW camp. The extra features are surprisingly good for a film that had limited box office returns. There are two commentaries -- one with Bruce Willis and the director, and one with the screenwriter. If you're a Bruce Willis fan, he has very little to say here, so it's not worth your time. The commentary by producer David Foster is much more interesting as it talks about the historical significance of the events in the film, as well as an in-depth description of the shoot. Ten deleted scenes, all of which could have made the film much better, round out the extras. If you're itching for a war flick on DVD, pick up "Black Hawk Down" or "Full Metal Jacket" before you even consider this landmine. "Hart's" is one war you'd be happy to lose.