Mission Gone Wrong…

Black Hawk Down is a 2001 war film directed and produced by Ridley Scott, and co-produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, from a screenplay by Ken Nolan. It is based on the eponymous non-fiction book (1999) by journalist Mark Bowden, about the crew of a Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down during the Battle of Mogadishu. The film features a large ensemble cast, including Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana, Tom Sizemore, William Fichtner, Jason Isaacs, Sam Shepard, Jeremy Piven, Ioan Gruffudd, Ewen Bremner, Hugh Dancy, and Tom Hardy in his first film role. Orlando Bloom, Ty Burrell, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau also have minor roles.

Black Hawk Down recieved a limited release on December 28, 2001, and had a wide release on January 18, 2002. Although criticized for inaccuracies, the film recieved postive reviews from film critics. Grossing $173 million worldwide against a production budget of $92 million, the film performed modestly. Black Hawk Down won two Academy Awards for Best Film Editing and Best Sound at the 74th Academy Awards. An extended cut of the film was released on DVD in 2006, the cut contains an additional eight minutes of footage, increasing the running time to 152 minutes. This extended cut was released on Blu-ray and in 4K on May 7, 2019.

Mark Bowden relied on a dramatization of participant accounts when writing the book, which are the basis of the film. SPC John Stebbins was renamed as fictional “John Grimes.” Stebbins name had been changed after Stebbins had been convicted by court martial in 1999 for the rape and forcible sodomy of his six-year-old daughter. The Pentagon, always sensitive about public image, decided to alter factual history by requesting the change Bowden said. Bowden wrote early screenplay drafts, before Bruckheimer gave it to screenwriter Nolan. The POW-captor conversation, between pilot Mike Durant and militiaman Firimbi, is from a Bowden script draft. To keep the film at a manageable length, 100 key figures in the book were condensed to 39. The movie also does not feature any Somali actors. Additionally, no Somali consultants were hired for accuracy, according to writer Bowden.

The Battle of Mogadishu, also known as the Black Hawk Down Incident, was part of Operation Gothic Serpent. It was fought on 3–4 October 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia, between forces of the United States—supported by UNOSOM II—against the forces of the Somali National Alliance (SNA) and armed irregulars of south Mogadishu.

Black Hawk Down is the Featured Film Blog of the month for January, for the historic Battle of Mogadishu. You can expect to read a critique of the 2002 film that evaluates it against its critics for inaccuracies. You can also read a recommendation for the film with a look at the Battle of Mogadishu and the real-soldiers that fought in Somalia. There is also a review of Mark Bowden‘s book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, that the film was based on. For the interview, director Ridley Scott sits down with Charlie Rose to discuss how he followed the 1993 raid in Mogadishu by the U.S. military in his film, Black Hawk Down. There is also a Top Ten List to commemorate the film being a Featured Film Blog of the month, and for Black Hawk Down, the topic of the list is My Top Ten War Movies! And finally, as a Featured Film Blog of the month, you can watch the Official Trailer for Black Hawk Down, and then plan on renting it tonight on your preferred streaming platform!

SCROLL DOWN AND WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER!

Black Hawk Down is available now to rent on all streaming platforms!