Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan has little for civilian punters to be enthused about
Military buffs and war-movie fans will front the line for Danger Close. But once you factor-in cardboard-thin characters, clichéd dialogue, and a lack of context about how Australia found itself in Vietnam in the first place, its stature shrinks markedly.
Leigh Paatsch
Don't miss out on the headlines from Leigh Paatsch. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Military buffs and war-movie enthusiasts will definitely front the queue for the ambitious local production Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan.
However, in all honesty, there is little here for civilian cinema punters to be truly enthused about.
This is the terrifying true story of what came to be known as The Battle of Long Tan during the Vietnam War.
Upon the ruins of a rubber plantation in August 1966, 108 Australian soldiers were forced to hold their ground the best they could against a Vietcong onslaught almost twenty times in number.
While hostilities lasted for less than half a day, many soldiers faced horrors that would stay with them for the rest of their lives.
In terms of conveying the frightening logistics of the bloody skirmish, Danger Close stands tall as a worthy tribute to those who found themselves in this living hell.
The technical excellence on display from director Kriv Stenders and his crew conjures a raw authenticity that often pushes the viewer to the brink of becoming totally overwhelmed.
It is a testament to the brilliant skills of editor Veronika Jenet that the confusion and mayhem depicted on this most unorthodox battlefield does not get the better of those watching intently.
However, once you factor-in cardboard-thin characters, clichéd dialogue, and a distinct lack of context about how Australia found itself in Vietnam in the first place, Danger Close’s stature soon shrinks markedly.
DANGER CLOSE: THE BATTLE OF LONG TAN (MA15+)
Director: Kriv Stenders (Red Dog)
Starring: Travis Fimmel, Luke Bracey, Richard Roxburgh, Anthony Hayes, Daniel Webber.
Rating: **1/2
Gets the fight right, but the rest is slight
Ben Affleck’s ‘logic-free’ Hollywood return
In the aftermath of his high-profile divorce from Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck makes his return to the big screen in The Accountant 2.
White Lotus star unveils ‘ridiculous’ new thriller
White Lotus’ Meghann Fahy stars in an entertainingly exploited whodunnit, Drop, while the sweaty, sensual and sonically sinister Sinners executes a sudden mood swing for Michael B. Jordan.