Catch a Fire (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
'Catch a Fire' (directed by Phillip Noyce) takes place in 1980, & tells the true story of Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke), an everyman. He wakes up, kisses his family goodbye, works in an oil refinery, coaches at a local soccer club, comes home for supper, etc. But his country, South Africa, is in the middle of apartheid rule. And when some anti-apartheid revolutionaries attack his workplace, he is mistakenly accused of being one. Things go downhill when Colonel Nic Vos (Tim Robbins) tortures him & his wife to provoke a confession. The film starts strong, but the last act turns on a dime; becoming a bizarre action/thriller that lacks bite.
Patrick is honest, earnest, & a 'decent man', as his wife, Precious (Bonnie Henna), would say. He keeps his head down & relishes staying out of trouble. He's not a political man, but he's very upset that this white man, Nic, has accused him of something he has not done; but he is also terribly angry that his family had been brought into it all. Although he's adultered in the past, he cherishes his family & puts them before himself. Nic eventually realizes Patrick's innocence & sets them free; but the damage is done. Patrick takes fate into his hands, leaves for Mozambique, & enlists as an aggressive freedom fighter (terrorist) in the African National Congress; a group designed to take-down the oppressive white African.
Does Nic realize that Patrick has 'become' the man he initially incorrectly arrested? Is Patrick willing to risk his life for his family/country? How will Patrick & the ANC try to demolish the white man? Are they successful? How does a woman from Patrick's past affect his future? Can his wife shake-off Patrick's bad decisions? Does Nic understand Patrick? Or is he too driven to distinguish right from wrong? Apartheid ends, but is Patrick's journey to freedom worth it?
The acting by all parties is good; with no standouts. The South African landscapes are beautiful. The 1980's feel is apparent throughout. It is a straightforward film with loads of sincerity. The message is clear: fight for what's right, resist oppression, take risks, handle bad situations, & forgiveness can ultimately lead to good things. I like the message, but it's abandoned to make way for some hurried, frenetic action in the last several scenes. Patrick and Nic play hide-&-seek with one another in the oil refinery & it all gets to be a bit too much. Also, for as important of a story as this is, it really lacks the zip that is necessary to call this a great film.
Even though apartheid ended years ago, this film speaks of situations going on today, as well. This biography of Patrick Chamusso is intriguing, but only mildly. I tend to enjoy these Africa-based films as of late (Hotel Rwanda, The Constant Gardner, The Last King of Scotland). And it's nice to see one, finally, from the perspective of an actual African. Think about it: one African man's story of how he went from average to hero-like status. With that fact being said, I thought the film's serious start would gain momentum. The kindle is there but the plot doesn't quite 'catch fire', & it relegates to cheap thrills in the end (and bad ones).
Patrick is honest, earnest, & a 'decent man', as his wife, Precious (Bonnie Henna), would say. He keeps his head down & relishes staying out of trouble. He's not a political man, but he's very upset that this white man, Nic, has accused him of something he has not done; but he is also terribly angry that his family had been brought into it all. Although he's adultered in the past, he cherishes his family & puts them before himself. Nic eventually realizes Patrick's innocence & sets them free; but the damage is done. Patrick takes fate into his hands, leaves for Mozambique, & enlists as an aggressive freedom fighter (terrorist) in the African National Congress; a group designed to take-down the oppressive white African.
Does Nic realize that Patrick has 'become' the man he initially incorrectly arrested? Is Patrick willing to risk his life for his family/country? How will Patrick & the ANC try to demolish the white man? Are they successful? How does a woman from Patrick's past affect his future? Can his wife shake-off Patrick's bad decisions? Does Nic understand Patrick? Or is he too driven to distinguish right from wrong? Apartheid ends, but is Patrick's journey to freedom worth it?
The acting by all parties is good; with no standouts. The South African landscapes are beautiful. The 1980's feel is apparent throughout. It is a straightforward film with loads of sincerity. The message is clear: fight for what's right, resist oppression, take risks, handle bad situations, & forgiveness can ultimately lead to good things. I like the message, but it's abandoned to make way for some hurried, frenetic action in the last several scenes. Patrick and Nic play hide-&-seek with one another in the oil refinery & it all gets to be a bit too much. Also, for as important of a story as this is, it really lacks the zip that is necessary to call this a great film.
Even though apartheid ended years ago, this film speaks of situations going on today, as well. This biography of Patrick Chamusso is intriguing, but only mildly. I tend to enjoy these Africa-based films as of late (Hotel Rwanda, The Constant Gardner, The Last King of Scotland). And it's nice to see one, finally, from the perspective of an actual African. Think about it: one African man's story of how he went from average to hero-like status. With that fact being said, I thought the film's serious start would gain momentum. The kindle is there but the plot doesn't quite 'catch fire', & it relegates to cheap thrills in the end (and bad ones).