Behind Enemy Lines (2001)

A Navy navigator is shot down over enemy territory and is ruthlessly pursued by a secret police enforcer and the opposing troops. Meanwhile his commanding officer goes against orders in an attempt to rescue him.

Director:

John Moore

Writers:

Jim Thomas (story) (as James Thomas), John Thomas (story)

Stars:

Gene Hackman, Owen Wilson, Gabriel Macht

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Owen Wilson	...	Burnett
Gene Hackman	...	Reigart
Gabriel Macht	...	Stackhouse
Charles Malik Whitfield	...	Rodway
Joaquim de Almeida	...	Piquet (as Joaquim De Almeida)
David Keith	...	O'Malley
Olek Krupa	...	Lokar
Vladimir Mashkov	...	Tracker
Marko Igonda	...	Bazda
Eyal Podell	...	Petty Officer Kennedy
Geoff Pierson	...	Admiral Donnelly
Aernout Van Lynden	...	Aernout Van Lynden
Sam Jaeger	...	Red Crown Operator #1
Shane Johnson	...	Red Crown Operator #2 (as Shane Mikael Johnson)
Don Winston	...	Red Crown Operator #3

Storyline

Fighter navigator Chris Burnett wants out: he was looking for something more than the boring recon missions he's been flying. He finds himself flying the lone Christmas day mission over war-torn Bosnia. But when he talks pilot Stackhouse into flying slightly off-course to check out an interesting target, the two get shot down. Burnett is soon alone, trying to outrun a pursuing army, while commanding officer Reigert finds his rescue operation hamstrung by politics, forcing Burnett to run far out of his way.

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Plot Keywords:

massacre | navy | bosnian war | aircraft carrier | bosnia herzegovina | 

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Taglines:

His only weapon is his will to survive.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for war violence and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Fox

Country:

USA

Language:

English Serbo-Croatian Spanish Czech

Release Date:

30 November 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Im Fadenkreuz - Allein gegen alle

Filming Locations:

Koliba Studios, Bratislava, Slovakia

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,736,133, 2 December 2001, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$59,068,786, 21 April 2002

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$91,753,222, 31 December 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox,Davis Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Moore praised Owen Wilson's "subtlety" in his scene with the Rear Admiral. He says Wilson's character would have to be restrained like that.

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Goofs

Burnett is sent to a rendezvous point for evacuation. He radios in when he reaches it and informs Reigart of this fact. However, when the radio contact goes down, Reigart orders his staff to "find out where he is" and triangulate his position, even though they know where he is: at the rendezvous point they told him to go to.

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Quotes

Bazda: [Bazda accidentally steps on a mine as he and Sasha are looking for Burnett]
[to Sasha and speaking in Serbian]
Bazda: Help me.
Sasha: [Pulls out his pistol and aims at Bazda and speaks in Serbian] Don't move. Be very still.
Bazda: [as Sasha carefully walks off; speaking in Serbian] Help me! HELP ME!
[Sasha shrugs at Bazda as Sasha leaves the area]

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Alternate Versions

The UK theatrical version had one dialogue substitution (removal of a single use of the word "fuck") to secure the "12" rating. For the DVD/video release, this substitution was waived by the BBFC.

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Connections

Referenced in Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)

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Soundtracks

Welcome to Mindhead (Abort Sequence Edit)
Performed by Compufonic
Written and Produced by Michael Licata and Carlos Vasquez

User Reviews

A movie with everything!

From the very start of the epic cinematographical masterpiece I could tell that I was about to witness something truly special; I was not let down. That said, I would have been better able to review this film objectively had not been for my mesmerisation at the hands of the truly astonishing nose of the man himself, Owen Wilson. Many lines of quality dialogue flew right past me as I marvelled at the wonderous nostrils adorning the beautious face of this great man. This herculean facial feature was indeed the highlight of the movie for me.

Regathering my scattered senses, I was once again plunged into the gripping storyline as a group of evil Serbians vindictively shoot down the spyplane of two great and noble american airmen. After bailing out, good ol' Owen is shot at by a platoon of monobrowed soldiers, who seem to be carrying guns because it makes them look sexy rather than for putting them to any practical use. Honestly, I could have done better with half a brick.

I will continue no further as I do not wish to spoil the amazing and absolutely-not-predictable twist at the end. Will Owen escape the guerilla scum? Will you be able to hold onto your lunch (or meal of preference) after the director utilises his 30th high speed pan and his 10 billionth ultra-fast zoom to closeup? Will Brad get back with Janice now that she is carrying his baby? Do Village Cinemas do refunds? All this and more in one of the greatest movies of all time.