Hart's War (2002)

60% of critics liked it
(121 reviews)
51% of users liked it
(42,526 ratings)

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… More 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, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 8 min.
Directed By: Gregory Hoblit
Written By: Terry George, Billy Ray
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Feb 15, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Jul 9, 2002
Studio: MGM/UA

Critic Reviews

Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Reaches for more than it can handle, but it's well-acted and earnest in its intentions.
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
Proves a servicable World War II drama that can't totally hide its contrivances, but it at least calls attention to a problem Hollywood too long has ignored.
Rex Reed, New York Observer
An exciting, thoughtful and adrenaline-pumping war picture that is provocative and different.
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
We're situated in that familiar showbiz intersection of Hollywood and Rhine.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
...it's not your typical war movie but I'm giving it thumbs down because I think its attempts to be different were quite frankly kind of ludicrous.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
You'll get the enjoyable basic minimum. But not a whit more.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Big WWII drama about honor, courage and sacrifice.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Nationality, race and politics clash in unexpected ways in this well-directed and acted but extremely old-fashioned prison drama that recalls genre film sof the 1950s and 1960s.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
In the ever-increasing onslaught of war movies, it stands head and shoulders above most of the competition.
Derek Adams, Time Out
This earnest WWII escape story throws in a courtroom drama, but to nobody's advantage.
Tom Grealis, RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
'Hart's War' is a perfect example of a film that remains anchored in mediocrity from beginning to end. It plods along like a chronic asthmatic, meandering to a conclusion that's both irritating and implausible.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
...Suitably gritty and intense...
Chris Barsanti, Film Threat
It's hard to know whether or not to recommend this film because for every thing it does right there's at least one and occasionally two things it gets ever so wrong.
James Rocchi, Netflix
Engaging thriller combines military movie genres and succeeds as more than the sum of its well-oiled parts.
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
Paint-by-numbers claptrap.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
As old-fashioned as it can get, a throwback to cinema's Golden Age and a tribute to the flawed, guilty human beings we call heroes.

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

Hart's War is a very interesting and intriguing Thriller set during the Second World in a POW camp. Hart's War may not be a perfect film, but it dies manage to keep you entertained throughout. Helmed by director Gregory Hoblit, who is a very underrated and talented director,… More
Hart's War is a very interesting and intriguing Thriller set during the Second World in a POW camp. Hart's War may not be a perfect film, but it dies manage to keep you entertained throughout. Helmed by director Gregory Hoblit, who is a very underrated and talented director, Hart's War is a well acted film with a good enough story. Many reviewers complain that it's a courtroom drama, well no shit, it is in a way. Theres nothing wrong with that, and I found the second half of this film to be quite good. Obviously Hart's War is not a perfect film, theres way too many flaws to count, but the way I see it, is it's an entertaining dramatic thriller with typical Hollywood elements to make the film more appealing to a wider audience. This film is not meant to be realistic in any way, it's just pure entertainment. Simple as that. The film boasts a decent cast of actors, and along with Phone Booth, this is Colin Farrell's best film, I'm not really a fan of his work, but in these two films he's very good. Overall, Hart's War is a pretty good dramatic Thriller, it may try to be too dramatic at times, but it's still a pretty good film worth watching. One of more interesting aspects of this film the numerous twists that unfold throughout, I found them quite thrilling, and you never get an idea of what really is going on till the very end. Before dismissing this film, give it a shot; for me it's a strong 6 out of 10. The actors playing the characters are well suited and just with the idea in mind that a "law student is assigned to defend a black prisoner accused of murder" should give the potential viewer a heads up that this will venture into courtroom drama territory. It's not the best film setting, granted, but it's certainly not the worst. A good enough film to watch on a rainy day.
Jani H

I really don't know, where to place 'Hart's War'. The film starts as a normal POW (prisoner of war) movie, but when the second half begins, it turns into a courtroom drama. Gregory Hoblit, the director of 'Hart's War', has had somewhat of a… More
I really don't know, where to place 'Hart's War'. The film starts as a normal POW (prisoner of war) movie, but when the second half begins, it turns into a courtroom drama. Gregory Hoblit, the director of 'Hart's War', has had somewhat of a rollercoaster type of career. After a good movie, he gives us a poor one. He started his feature film career with the excellent 'Primal Fear', then came 'Fallen'. After these came ''Frequency', 'Hart's War', 'Fracture' and then 'Untraceable'. See what I mean? Almost came queasy... 'Hart's War' does have some good scenes but in overall, the film is very uneven. The characters have almost zero depth in 'em. The film also tries to deal with racism but the whole issue was in the end buried beneath the screenwriters unimaginative end twist. Colin Farrell and Marcel Lures give nice performances but the rest of the cast seem to enjoy a nice holiday in a POW camp type of holiday resort. If I were a POW, I'd like to spend some time in a camp where the prisoners have their own theatre and leisure rooms. Pretty far fetched? 'Hart's War', you'll love it or hate it. Or get bored as I did. For fans of Farrell and Willis only. Those who seek for something better, try a classic like 'Stalag 17'.
danny d

pretty decent war time film mixed with court room drama
Al S

A stunning and nail-biting suspense-drama. Gripping, riveting and captivating. Bruce Willis is teriffic. Colin Farrel is fantastic. Terrence Howard is excellent.
Jason S

A little boring for me.
Burger S

Best WWII prison movie since "The Great Escape"
Joseph E

It was great, until, the second half. That half killed all of the first half's goodness.
Andre T

A great surprise.
Marcus W

Mixes The Great Escape with To Kill A Mockingbird, completely fails to be in any way gripping or engaging and ends up a generic war movie that is easily, and best, forgotten. Nicht gut!
Miriam K

I like Bruce Willis...What can I say.

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Bruce Willis as Col. William McNamara

            Colin Farrell as Lt. Tommy Hart

            Vicellous Reon Shannon as Lamar Archer

            Terrence Howard as Lt. Lincoln Scott

            Jonathan Brandis as Waverly

            Marcel Iures as Col. Werner Visser

            Scott Michael Campbell as Cpl. Joe Cromin

            Linus Roache as Capt. Peter Ross

            Rory Cochrane as Sgt. Carl Webb

            Cole Hauser as Bedford

            Michael Landes as Maj. M.F. Giannetti

            Michael Weston as Pfc. W. Roy Potts

            Sam Worthington as Depot

            Sam Jaeger as Capt. R. G. Sisk

            Adrian Grenier as Pvt. Daniel Abrams

            Sebastian Tillinger as Pvt. Bert "Moose" Codman

            Joe Spano as Col. J. M. Lange

            Maury Sterling as Pfc. Dennis Gerber

            Karel Belohradsky as Guard

            Rúaidhrí Conroy as Cpl. D.F. Lisko

            Brad Hunt as Pvt. G.H. "Cookie" Bell

            Dan van Husen as Box Car Sergeant

            Jan Nemejovsky as Spike Guard

            Jan Tesarz as Guard

            Ladislav Lahoda as Additional stunt coordinator

            Jakub Zdenek as Delousing Private

            Petr Drozda as Additional stunt coordinator

            Rocky Marshal as Capt. Robert M. Swann

            Rick Ravanello as Maj. Joe Clary

            Michel Beran as Pvt. Pugh

            Danny Babbington as Pvt. S.T. Engler

            David Barrass as Maj. Hans Fussel

            Jim Boeven as M.P. Sergeants

            Dugald Bruce-Lockhart as Capt. Lutz

            Martin Cizek as Guard

            Tony Devlin as Pvt. Donald W. West

            Jan Dostal as Russian POW

            Daniel Fleischer-Brown as Barracks 22 officer

            Gary Gold as McNamara's Aide

            Holger Handtke as Maj. Johann Wirtz

            Vit Herzina as Russian POW

            René Ifrah as Pvt. S.T. Engler

            Jan Jakubec as Lowly Guard

            Christian Kahrmann as M.P. Sergeants

            Lukas Kantor as Cranky Corporal

            Richard Kardhordo as Barracks 27 POW

            Martin Kohout as Guard

            Radek Kuchar as Guard

            Vladimir Kulhavy as Guard

            Jan Marsik as Tower Sentry

            Steve Sarossy as Lt. M.K. Adams

            Jiri M. Sieber as Kooler Guard

            Joel Sugerman as Unnamed GI

            Bohumil Svarc as Nighttime Appel Guard

            Peter Varga as Russian POW

            Georg Vietje as Morning Guard

            Alan T. Ward as Barracks 22 officer

            Grey Williams as Pvt. R.S. Croutch

            Stephen H. Fisher as Barracks 22 oficer
See full cast

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