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Bruce Willis, Colin Farrell, Vicellous Reon Shannon, Terrence Howard, Jonathan Brandis ... see more see more... , Marcel Iures , Scott Michael Campbell , Linus Roache , Rory Cochrane , Cole Hauser , Michael Landes , Michael Weston , Sam Worthington , Sam Jaeger , Adrian Grenier , Sebastian Tillinger , Joe Spano , Maury Sterling , Karel Belohradsky , Rúaidhrí Conroy , Brad Hunt , Dan van Husen , Jan Nemejovsky , Jan Tesarz , Ladislav Lahoda , Jakub Zdenek , Petr Drozda , Rocky Marshal , Rick Ravanello , Michel Beran , Danny Babbington , David Barrass , Jim Boeven , Dugald Bruce-Lockhart , Martin Cizek , Tony Devlin , Jan Dostal , Daniel Fleischer-Brown , Gary Gold , Holger Handtke , Vit Herzina , René Ifrah , Jan Jakubec , Christian Kahrmann , Lukas Kantor , Richard Kardhordo , Martin Kohout , Radek Kuchar , Vladimir Kulhavy , Jan Marsik , Steve Sarossy , Jiri M. Sieber , Joel Sugerman , Bohumil Svarc , Peter Varga , Georg Vietje , Alan T. Ward , Grey Williams , Stephen H. Fisher

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. To... read more read more...mmy 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

Flixster Users

51% liked it

42,526 ratings

Critics

60% liked it

121 critics

R, 2 hr. 8 min.

Directed by: Gregory Hoblit

Release Date: February 15, 2002

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DVD Release Date: July 9, 2002

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Flixster Reviews (945)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    October 20, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    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... read more'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.
  • TheMachinist
    July 4, 2009
    TheMachinist
    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... read more 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'.
  • sanjurosamurai
    March 25, 2009
    sanjurosamurai
    pretty decent war time film mixed with court room drama
  • allan913
    January 12, 2008
    allan913
    A stunning and nail-biting suspense-drama. Gripping, riveting and captivating. Bruce Willis is teriffic. Colin Farrel is fantastic. Terrence Howard is excellent.
  • superclerk25
    February 16, 2007
    superclerk25
    A little boring for me.
  • burgerstar
    September 9, 2010
    burgerstar
    Best WWII prison movie since "The Great Escape"
  • EbertsLittleApprentice
    July 28, 2010
    EbertsLittleApprentice
    It was great, until, the second half. That half killed all of the first half's goodness.
  • Tecnoandre
    January 24, 2011
    Tecnoandre
    A great surprise.
  • Lemure
    December 20, 2009
    Lemure
    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!
  • qtmemoe
    July 9, 2007
    qtmemoe
    I like Bruce Willis...What can I say.

View All Hart's War Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jeff Strickler
November 6, 2002
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Reaches for more than it can handle, but it's well-acted and earnest in its intentions. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
August 9, 2002
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
March 13, 2002
Rex Reed, New York Observer

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

Peter Rainer
February 24, 2002
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

We're situated in that familiar showbiz intersection of Hollywood and Rhine. Full Review

Richard Roeper
February 19, 2002
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. Full Review

Desson Thomson
February 15, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

You'll get the enjoyable basic minimum. But not a whit more.

Stephen Hunter
February 15, 2002
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

More or less self-destructs in a ridiculous last few minutes when it becomes a noble sacrifice-o-rama. Full Review

Mike Clark
February 15, 2002
Mike Clark, USA Today

An earnest racial-issues picture that might have gotten respectful critical praise in a different era -- say, the '60s. Full Review

Peter Howell
February 15, 2002
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

As an actor's showcase, Hart's War has much to recommend it, even if the top-billed Willis is not the most impressive player. As a story of dramatic enlightenment, the screenplay by Billy Ray and Terr... Full Review

Carla Meyer
February 15, 2002
Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle

Hart's War contains a fatal structural flaw. A racially charged court-martial that takes up half the picture turns out to be a just a cover. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Col. Werner Visser: Look around you.....this is not Geneva.
    • Col. William McNamara: If we dual, we both lose.
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  • who stars in: 2 fast 2 furious, tears of the sun, pitch black, harts war and good will hunting?  Answer »
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  • In the movie 'Hart's War', this actor portrayed a pilot being tried for murder in a WWII prisoner of war camp. Who is he?  Answer »
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