There is a moment of ease and when all the chaos surrounding the imprisoned German-American Vietnam pilot Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale) and fellow prisoner of war Duane (Steve Zahn) has taken a back seat to their simple conversation. Dieter explains to him how he became a pilot and what motivated him (a fighter pilot was attacking his town when he was a little boy and Dieter and the pilot both made eye contact, from here on he knew what he wanted in life). After he tells him the story, the two just stare off into some sort of amazement or they’re both searching for what they once had. This is when Dieter wants that feeling back. He’s now motivated to escape the camp. Based on the true events, we realize Dieter should be recognized for his courageous achievements.
Legendary director Werner Herzog does a fantastic job of capturing the feeling of loneliness and hatred. The setting of the film is all natural and Herzog is known for that. Just see his films Aguirre, the Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo, and even the documentary hit Grizzly Man and you’ll also realize all these films put man against nature. The most amazing shots in the movie aren’t scripted at all, rather they are an act of nature. Notice the shot when Dieter is finished talking to his group. Herzog pulls the camera up slowly and shows the giant rocks that overshadow him. The intense river ride as well. Herzog wants to make it clear to us that the jungle is the prison. The other point the makes clear is that the Vietnam war was hell. No one thought the war would be so time consuming. At one point, Dieter signals to US choppers and they fire shots at him. That signifies the confusion that was going on.
As Dieter plunges deeper into his plan to escape, people might find the movie to drag a bit. But this is how it should be. You can’t jazz up something that isn’t true. Our audience is prone to the heavy use of special effects but here there is none of that. As he descends into the jungle, we feel that we are doing it with him. This is all done with perfection by Bale. He is, today, the best all around actor we have. Whether he plays a psycho, an insomniac, batman, or a 17th century English settler, he makes the audience believe his character. Surely, he’ll do the same magic in the upcoming western 3:10 to Yuma.
When he falls from the sky to the Vietnam city of Laos, the procedure is done perfectly. The camera style seems to be documentary like, making us more involved in the action. They torture him and throw him in the camp. This is where he meets five others who each have been captured from about 1 ½ years to 2 ½ years. One of the tells Dieter “keep your head down and mouth shut, that’s your only way to survive.” Well, this person doesn’t know Dieter. He’s a person who refuses to die. He tells them he has a plan to escape and eventually they come to accept that task. He came to give these terrified men some hope.
Herzog does something unique during these scene at the POW camp. Amongst all the torturing and confusion, Herzog adds a touch of comedy and that’s exactly what was needed. When they all go to bed at night they’re all handcuffed together. They undo them to escape but one the guard is coming to check on them and they frantically try to put them back on and act like nothing happened. Three Americans and three Asians are the prisoners and they bond with time. Three Americans and three Asians are the prisoners and they all bond with time.
The ending is breathtaking and heartfelt, just like the entire movie itself. Set to the haunting score of Klaus Badelt the movie hits you in the gut. No special effects at all. No need for them. This movie isn’t suppose to be thrilling. What it sets out to do is show us the anguish that Dieter goes through. This is pure and great filmmaking at its absolute best.