Cinephile (Action Films): Behind Enemy Lines

3/5 Stars

Plot: “A disillusioned pilot shot down over war-torn Bosnia is ensnared in the conflict in war-torn Bosnia. In the crosshairs of the enemy and an assassin, the spoiled pilot runs for his life as his commanding officer risks all to save him.”

Review: As Behind Enemy Lines opens on a US Naval air carrier at sea, we watch Owen Wilson as Burnett goes through the routine checks required before take-off. Instantly, I thought, is Owen Wilson about to have a Top Gun moment? With a plot that feels more survival-at-all-cost than beautifully filmed dog fights, the answer comes soon enough.

Burnett is bored and ready to return home. The war he signed up for has never materialized. Angry and disillusioned, his commanding officer, Reigart (Gene Hackman), is more than happy to oblige the request. But then on a routine reconnaissance mission, Burnett and his pilot enter a no-fly zone over Bosnia. Rebels, angry with the betrayal, launch rockets to bring the plane down. This leads to some of the most intense moments of the entire movie.

On the ground, the film morphs into a race for survival as Burnett runs through setting after setting while being chased by rebels who want him dead. As the rally point changes, the film forces you to feel the anger, desperation, and search for hope of Wilson’s…