Werner Herzog has a reputation as a director who has done some insanely difficult shoots. With films like "Fitzcarraldo" and "Aguirre, the Wrath of God" being made in the middle of no where in the South American jungle, he was definitely willing to go the extra mile to get the look right. Here with "Rescue Dawn", he and his film crew go to Thailand but that isn't really the hard part--the hard part is what the actors went through to have the right emaciated look for prisoners of war. Christian Bale (already famous for his weight loss in "The Boxer") and the rest of the cast lost up to 55 pounds each! For this reason alone, the film is a marvel.

The film is the true story* of Dieter Dengler--a Navy pilot shot down over Laos in 1965. He was taken prisoner and spent several months in a tiny prison along with seven other prisoners**. Ultimately, he led an escape and is one of the few guys who successfully escaped Viet Cong custody.

I really enjoyed this film. Although I knew Dengler eventually escaped, I still could feel the tension that comes from a good story and a well made film. While it's probably not everyone's idea of a great film (it is pretty hard to watch in a few spots),it is a quality production throughout and some of the acting blew me away. Bale, as usual, was terrific but I also was wowed by Steve Zahn--he did so much without saying anything--using his body and facial expression to convince you he's emotionally spent and on the verge of losing his sanity. Well worth seeing. Also, if you enjoy it, Herzog made a prior film, "Little Dieter Needs to Fly"--which is a documentary about the same man and events.

*One of the prisoners in the film is NOT shown in a flattering light. The man did not survive the war and his family was apparently NOT happy about the film and strongly disagree with the portrayal.

**Oddly, one of the prisoner was dropped for the movie.

It's 1965 and nobody thought much of Vietnam. Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale) is on his first mission to bomb the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos. He crashes and is captured. He refuses to sign a confession for the Province Governor. He is tortured and sent to a sadistic prison camp in the middle of the jungle. The most sadistic of the guards is Little Hitler. There are prisoners from many places suffering many years. He organizes an escape plan with Duane Martin (Steve Zahn) but Gene DeBruin (Jeremy Davies) opposes the plan.

Director Werner Herzog has made a shockingly realistic portrayal of the inhuman conditions. There is a realness to the jungle location and the locals. There are some reported inaccuracies of the real people being portrayed. The movie itself is a well-acted, compelling, awe-inspiring human drama. The acting from everybody is superb. Herzog is brilliant and the movie is impeccable.

German director Werner Herzog is well known for his jungle-set pictures as well as his documentaries, and the look of this film is heavily inspired by both. It has a gritty, realistic edge to it that ties in with the fact that it's based on a true story, and Herzog's a guy striving for realism throughout. At the end of the day, RESCUE DAWN is simply another Vietnam P.O.W. flick, but that's fine as Hollywood hasn't made one in a while. This film has a taut and compelling narrative and benefits hugely from some excellent performances, especially from the central duo of Christian Bale and Steve Zahn. Bale, who loses weight again for the role after his turn in THE MACHINIST, is typically excellent, but it's Zahn who comes as the biggest surprise. This is a guy typically typecast in comedies but he gives a great dramatic turn here.

The story is pretty predictable and infused with a level of grittiness that incorporates torture, hardships, deprivation, and killing. It comes as no surprise that the second half is an escape picture, with our heroes tackling everything the jungle throws at them in their bid for survival. Not since Ruggero Deodato's gruelling cannibal epics circa 1980 has a film made us feel the sweaty confines of the jungle so much. A truly heartwarming ending lifts our spirits a little, but in the end this is a roller-coaster ride of emotion and another example of the triumph of the human spirit. Great stuff.