HART’S WAR

HART’S WAR is a powerful, riveting courtroom drama set in an American POW camp during World War II. Its four-star quality comes from earnest performances, compelling characters, strong direction, and a conclusion that gives its story unusual moral and spiritual weight.

The film celebrates duty, honor, courage, goodwill toward others, and especially sacrifice. A small book containing Psalms and the New Testament becomes important to the story’s Christian symbolism. But the R rating is earned through strong language, wartime violence, smoking, and mature themes. The film also includes a possible revisionist treatment of racism and wartime history.

Older teens and adults who can handle those concerns may find a deeply meaningful and well-made drama. Younger children should not see it, and parents should exercise serious discernment with viewers ages 7 to 13. For older audiences, this is worth the trip.

In December during World War II, privileged American Lt. Hart is captured by German soldiers and sent to a POW camp near Augsburg. There he meets Col. McNamara, the camp’s commanding American officer, and two black pilots trained at the Tuskegee facility.

When one pilot is accused of murdering a racist sergeant, McNamara appoints Hart as his defense attorney. The wartime court-martial could cost the accused man his life, while Hart suspects that more is happening inside the camp than he understands.

Four stars means HART’S WAR is an excellent film. Colin Farrell gives a powerful performance as Lt. Hart, while Bruce Willis is compelling as the stoic Col. McNamara, whose hidden motives keep his feelings guarded. Terrence Howard is fine as Lt. Scott, and Marcel Iures brings complexity to the German commandant, Col. Visser.

Gregory Hoblit’s direction deftly handles the acting, characters, and drama. The train-station attack and the POWs’ arrival at the camp effectively recreate the World War II setting. The courtroom trial slows the movie somewhat, and the film could use more action toward the end, but its strong performances, filmmaking, and dramatic conclusion make it exceptional.

HART’S WAR exalts duty, honor, courage, goodwill toward one’s fellow man, and sacrifice, especially laying down one’s life for others, one’s country, and one’s fellow countrymen. Its Christian symbolism centers on a book containing Psalms and the New Testament, which plays an important role in two late scenes. The possibility of sacrifice is placed within that biblical context, and the conclusion gives the film a strong Christian worldview with substantial moral depth.

The movie also opposes racism and shows the evil of Nazi Germany’s treatment of POWs. At the same time, the review identifies the racism subplot as possible politically correct, revisionist history. The film does not stress the fight against racism as heavily as the novel apparently does, and it humanizes the German commandant by showing his awareness of American hypocrisy and his appreciation for jazz. These choices make the film’s historical and political treatment more complicated than its themes of honor and sacrifice.

At its heart, the film presents sacrifice as a way to serve others and give meaning to suffering. Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

HART’S WAR is excellent filmmaking with a redemptive moral center, strong performances, and a powerful conclusion. Its language, violence, smoking, and mature themes make it unsuitable for children and call for discernment with younger teens. For older teens and adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER TEENS AND ADULTS.