“Basic” (Columbia Pictures)
“Basic” is a movie that takes a look at the truth about a situation from several different perspectives. In doing this you get a film that leaves the viewer unsure of anything until the final moments arrive. Add to this one of John Travolta’s coolest performances in years, plus a salty as always Samuel L Jackson, and you have movie magic of the first order.
In “Basic” Travolta plays Tom Hardy, an ex-Ranger who is now working for the DEA. He gets a call from his good friend, Colonel Bill Styles (Tim Daly). It seems that Sgt Nathan West (Jackson) took his men out on a routine training mission in Panama. There was bad weather and only two of the men survived. The others, including West, are presumed dead. Styles wants Hardy to interrogate the survivors – Dunbar (Brian Van Holt) and Kendall (Giovanni Ribisi).
Both of these men have refused to cooperate with Captain Julia Osborne (Connie Nielsen), but she remains on the case to assist Hardy. But the more he investigates and interrogates these two men, the more confusing it all becomes. Dunbar and Kendall tell different tales and later on so do others. The search for the truth becomes a search for an elusive secret.
Travolta is back in “Broken Arrow” and “Face/Off” mode. He is funny, warm, tough, dangerous and charming – all at one time. You have a hard time getting a bead on his character but you enjoy him just the same. He and Jackson share virtually no screen time but their influence on each other’s roles is felt.
Nielsen is a hard sell as the investigator. She sports an almost too syrupy southern drawl but it and she grow on you. By the final scenes you are with her all the way as she becomes a vehicle by which the audience can gain the ultimate truths.
Ribisi, Van Holt and an unexpectedly enjoyable Harry Connick, Jr. give strong support. They help create the mood of the film and play it to the fullest.
The movie is rated R for profanity and violence.
This is Travolta’s best performance and most enjoyable film in a couple of years. He gets down to “basics” and does it right.
I scored “Basic” a fundamental 8 out of 10.
©2003 Jackie K. Cooper
