Movie Review: Bat*21 (1988)

Genre: Vietnam War Drama  
Director: Peter Markle  
Starring: Gene Hackman, Danny Glover, Jerry Reed  

Running Time: 105 minutes  

Synopsis: During the Vietnam War, Lieutenant Colonel Iceal Hambleton (Gene Hackman) parachutes into enemy territory when his reconnaissance plane is shot down. Hambleton is a veteran intelligence officer, and the North Vietnamese prioritize his capture. He makes radio contact with forward air patrol Captain Bartholomew "Birddog" Clark (Danny Glover), flying a Cessna. Birddog becomes Hambleton's main contact with the outside world as he navigates in enemy territory over several days and the army struggles to mount a rescue mission. A looming massive American air strike in the area adds time pressure.

What Works Well: Based on actual events, the story of a war-time rescue under enemy fire enjoys themes of friendship, survival, and most effectively, the difference between the brutality of up-close combat and the comparatively serene world of an intelligence officer far from the front lines. Gene Hackman and Danny Glover establish a remote cockpit-to-ground rapport, and both actors convey the weight of their ordeal through lived-in performances. Director Peter Markle maintains control of the material with no superfluous scenes and a focus on capturing the rigours of a jungle warfare environment, and capably weaves in the improvised golf course code Hambleton used to communicate his arduous travel path.

What Does Not Work As Well: The enemy perspective is non-existent, and this is a men's-only world with no female roles. The climax goes over-the-top in layering on improbabilities, then keeps looking for more.

Key Quote:

Birddog (over the radio to Hambleton): Let's get the basic relationship down... I'm the lifeguard, you're the drowning man. If you relax, I can bring you to shore. If you fight me, then I'll have to slap you around.



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