After Hurt Locker and Kilo Two Bravo, it is Canada's chance to create a 'war is hell' movie. This one takes place in Afghanistan, and follows the plot of Canadian soldiers trying to navigate the politics and dangers of creating Hyena Road which is supposed to be a major blow to the Taliban.
Let us start with the good. The lead actor, Paul Gross is good as always, playing both narrator and sage to the chaos. His role is the best part of the movie, and he is often able to use humour and subtlety to convey the mood of the film. Clarke Johnson (Canada's adopted son, best known from Homicide Life on the Streets and The Wire) is dreadfully underused, and is really only a cameo. The other actors are fair, but often can't make much out of a very cliché and limited script.
Also good is some of the early action. Smaller engagements look and feel authentic. Snipers with sighters taking range and careful considerations is interesting and dramatic. What is not good is the larger action sequences which seem forced and choppy. We will see enemies miles away, suddenly to appear all around our heroes. Hurt Locker was good because the very little action was so realistic and limited that it was dramatic. The blend of action feels more like Fast and The Furious than Generation Kill or Hurt Locker.
The bad. Plot and flow are enemies to this movie just as the Taliban are supposedly the enemies to peace in Afghanistan. Maybe the director wanted us to get a glimpse of 'life' in their world, but the audience does not get a sense of conflation of war, but frustration and boredom at a snails pace plot, and confusing at the what is supposed to be happening.
Overall, as a piece of Canadiana, Hyena Road was worth a watch. It is fun to see Canadians in the field, both bad and good. It is also nice to see some diverse actors and some point of view from Afghan residents. This is not a good movie, but a pretty bad movie with some very good things in it.
If you are a Canadian history nut or a hard core Paul Gross (or Clark Johnson like me!) you should see this, otherwise there is very little reason to watch this. 5/10
Let us start with the good. The lead actor, Paul Gross is good as always, playing both narrator and sage to the chaos. His role is the best part of the movie, and he is often able to use humour and subtlety to convey the mood of the film. Clarke Johnson (Canada's adopted son, best known from Homicide Life on the Streets and The Wire) is dreadfully underused, and is really only a cameo. The other actors are fair, but often can't make much out of a very cliché and limited script.
Also good is some of the early action. Smaller engagements look and feel authentic. Snipers with sighters taking range and careful considerations is interesting and dramatic. What is not good is the larger action sequences which seem forced and choppy. We will see enemies miles away, suddenly to appear all around our heroes. Hurt Locker was good because the very little action was so realistic and limited that it was dramatic. The blend of action feels more like Fast and The Furious than Generation Kill or Hurt Locker.
The bad. Plot and flow are enemies to this movie just as the Taliban are supposedly the enemies to peace in Afghanistan. Maybe the director wanted us to get a glimpse of 'life' in their world, but the audience does not get a sense of conflation of war, but frustration and boredom at a snails pace plot, and confusing at the what is supposed to be happening.
Overall, as a piece of Canadiana, Hyena Road was worth a watch. It is fun to see Canadians in the field, both bad and good. It is also nice to see some diverse actors and some point of view from Afghan residents. This is not a good movie, but a pretty bad movie with some very good things in it.
If you are a Canadian history nut or a hard core Paul Gross (or Clark Johnson like me!) you should see this, otherwise there is very little reason to watch this. 5/10