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Black Hawk Down
2001 145 min United Kingdom, United States of America R 16+
★8.2
Action, War, History
Director: Ridley Scott
📖 Based on the novel
«Black Hawk Down»
byMark Bowden
Trailers
Description
When U.S. Rangers and an elite Delta Force team attempt to kidnap two underlings of a Somali warlord, their Black Hawk helicopters are shot down, and the Americans suffer heavy casualties, facing intense fighting from the militia on the ground.
Budget:
$92M
US Gross:
$108.64M
Worldwide:
$172.99M
Starring
Josh Hartnett
Actor
Ewan McGregor
Actor
Tom Sizemore
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 2002
— Best Film Editing
Academy Awards 2002
— Best Sound
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2002
— Best Picture
Saturn Awards 2004
— Best Special DVD Edition
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2002
— Best Action Scene
Academy Awards 2002
— Best Film Editing
BAFTA 2002
— Best Film Editing
Saturn Awards 2002
— Best Action, Adventure or Thriller
Academy Awards 2002
— Best Sound
Academy Awards 2002
— Best Director
Academy Awards 2002
— Best Cinematography
Key opinion
Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down is widely recognized as a technically masterful, visceral war film that excels in its documentary-like depiction of combat and immersive sound design. While many praise its gritty realism and emotional impact, opinions are polarized regarding its character depth and the representation of the conflict, with some viewers finding the narrative hollow or stereotypical.
| Score | The film features Oscar-winning sound design and technical execution that create an exceptionally immersive, gritty battlefield atmosphere. | |
| Direction | Ridley Scott's direction creates a compelling, documentary-style spectacle that effectively captures the intensity and chaos of urban warfare. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography is consistently praised for its striking, realistic visuals that maintain their visual impact even decades after release. | |
| Acting | The cast is viewed as adequate or capable, though many critics note that the characters remain underdeveloped and serve more as archetypes than fully realized individuals. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative is debated; while some find its focus on soldiering and survival deeply moving, others feel it lacks human depth and relies too heavily on generic war tropes. | |
| Culture | The portrayal of the Somali conflict is contentious; some appreciate the focus on the horror of the situation, while others criticize it for dehumanizing locals and offering a limited, biased perspective. | |
| Pacing | The film’s pacing divides audiences, with some valuing the slow-burn buildup and immersive combat, while others find the rhythm tedious and the lack of narrative dynamism exhausting. |