Rescue Dawn (2007)

Directed By: Werner Herzog
Starring: Christian Bale, Zach Grenier, Marshall Bell, Toby Huss, Pat Healy, Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies,

Werner Herzog has created some classic masterpieces in his last thirty years. Aguirre: Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo being just two of them. So when a new film of his about a prisoner of war set during the Vietnam War came out, you can expect it to be a fairly arduous journey. Unfortunately, despite its quality, it’s not quite up there with what you’d expect from a Herzog film.
Christian Bale plays Dieter Dengler, a guy who signs up to fight purely for his love of flying. On his first mission he is shot down over Laos. Behind enemy lines it doesn’t take long before he’s captured and imprisoned with other American, who have been there much longer. These prisoners are populated by the excellent Steve Zahn and the gestured Jeremy Davies. As the film unwinds, Dengler gets more and more starved becoming gaunt, just like the others.
But like Bale’s performance, Dengler refuses to give up and commits himself to the hope that they will escape and be rescued. This becomes the focus of the first half of film. It’s surprising how much humour comes out of the story and their predicament. But again it’s Bale’s Dengler who gives them hope and creates as closely as possible an ordinary life for his fellow prisoners.
Herzog’s direction is good, but not great, he seems almost complacent with the material. So experienced with sort of subject matter it’s hard to see where he’s really stretching himself. This is a disappointment considering his recent output, notably the documentary Grizzly Man as been exceptional.
But this is, as is so often, Bale’s movie. Like The Machinist, Bale is quite comfortable slimming down to scarily unhealthy sizes for the right look. And here he is truly exceptional. It’s always refreshing and uplifting to watch an actor who is slowly becoming the most consistently brilliant and diverse actor of his generation. One glimpse over his filmography and on sees not only iconic characters and performance but more diversity than an actor could ever hope for. He also seems something of an obsessive actor, never stopping.
What makes this performance one of his best is that he seems completely embroiled in his character. His mannerisms, accents and ticks are all unique to this character. As such he carries along this arduous and uncompromising journey. Its Bale magnificent performance which stops you feeling drained by the end of the film. His sheer perseverance both the character and as an actor escort you through the horrors and disappointments felt that by the marginally over sentimental ending feels perfectly sufficient and ultimately you feel it’s as much for you as for the character.
Yes the film has problems. As mentioned earlier Herzog is far to entrenched in his comfort zone for this to be considered anything more than a good film but like so many films with great actors this is a Christian Bale film first and foremost and should be enjoyed for that. The support cast comprises mainly of Steve Zahn as fellow prison mate Duane. The other characters including the verging on pure annoying Jeremy Davies who is nothing more than a menagerie of gestures are forgettable once the prison break begins.
Zahn performances show his range and versatility whilst also allowing Bale some company during the final act.


Not the greatest of he prison of war movies but still a superb effort and performance for American most diverse actor. Herzog fans may feel slightly let down but this is by no means a disappointment