2001, R, 144 minutes

A lot of people are going to be disappointed by this movie, and it's probably for the exact same reason I loved it. What happened in 1993 in Mogadishu, Somalia was a horrible event not only for the men who suffered, but the United States as a whole and the repercussions of how the country was represented. Rather than trying to sugarcoat the tragic events or insert some lame story of inspiration and honor, director Ridley Scott (Gladiator) tells it like it is.

Black Hawk Down is a gory and hard-hitting war epic, and if you've seen the 60 Minutes production or read about it, then you'll have even more respect for the film's accuracy. If there is a star in this ensemble piece it would have to be Josh Hartnett, who redeems himself for appearing in Pearl Harbor with a solid performance. However, the real stand-out is Eric Bana, who demonstrates a remarkable degree of screen presence and really grabs your attention whenever you see him. He basically plays a tough-guy who cuts straight to the chase and knows exactly what he's fighting for: "It's about the guy next to you," he explains. Black Hawk Down isn't a film you can fall in love with so much as admire, and that's the way it should be.