Sorry, this movie sucks

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I'm afraid I had this in my shelf for 2 years before I saw it, and that us a travesty in it's self. This is the best photographer-film I ever saw, and it's even a true story. Journalism is of the most dangerous jobs in the world, and photographers have to be even closer to the horrific events which occur around in the world. They are obliged to refer and make proof of what's happening.Directed by the South African Steven Silver, this Canadian/South African film is based in a book, "The bang-bang club", a true story about four journalists working in South Africa, photographing civilian war there, during Apartheid. It's a film which tells a story, gives out the dilemmas, and moral issues in a well played movie. Biggest star, Ryan Phillippe, does once again a great main role. He has no problems carrying this on his shoulders.This film deserves a bigger audience than it's had. Casting Ryan Phillippe is a smart thing her, giving the film some of it's international audience. And I hope it'll continue. Because this is a very good a realistically told movie. Way better than a Hollywood production would have told it, though I would have been seen of tenfolds more.As a teacher in media, I would recommend this as a fine media film. Not only about photographing and journalism in dangerous situations around the world, but also as a film showing the dilemma, moral questions involved as well as a good told filmed story. It basically tells that this kind of journalism and photographing is not for everyone.Photo technically th film learns you some, but it tells more about editing and the media's use of photographers and pictures, even when they don't dare to tell the truth, and when they compete, and try to take credit, even when they where too afraid to use the material early on. Also the very difficult dilemma if a journalist should interfere in a situation or not when able to do so.The film overall works well. It loses a little tension from time to time, seen as a thriller, but then it is a drama. Maybe a tiny little too much focus on a love story, but for some this will add to the story what they need to enjoy the film fully. It's sometime brutal, but it tells the truth. Brutally honest.Th rating here on IMDb is too low. In my opinion this should have has a rating of 7,2-7,5 compared to other films in this landscape. I, go myself, think it's a clear 8/10. Recommended!

Well i just wanted to add that the movie is rated much below what it deserves. And this is the first time i'm writing a review because i never cared to read what other have written. But this is ONE MOVIE, that has compelled me to write one. People who are into Photography will definitely appreciate the Documentary/movie and the situation a war journalist is in. How there life are effected just because there work involve photographing the truth. It shows that its a misconception that a photographer has the easiest job. To just buy a camera and click the shutter button. Who have rated it below avg or a mere 3 start must be used to watching James Bond or terminator kind of stuff. So to conclude "Don't go by the rating, watch it yourself and decide". Cheers!!!

A brave film to make about an horrendous period of history - the end of apartheid in South Africa 1990-94. But it is obvious why the USA rejected it - it is about Africa and black Africans murdering each other rather violently, while white men in the leads take photos ( and Nelson Mandela does not appear as saint/messiah - in fact, his supporters kill as violently as the 'bad' Zulus and are referred to as 'comrades' a euphemism for communists!). It is a true story taken from a book written by two surviving photographers from a group of four who earned the soubriquet of 'The Bang Bang Club.' They went into the SA townships to chronicle the violence - some organised by the dying white government - and won two Pulitzer prizes in the course of the time covered. Yes, it is told by the white men and women, but it also tells in full frontal what the black population were doing to each other, and why and how it felt. There is even one black character who harangues the lead character, Greg Marinovitch, at every opportunity about white men taking photos for a white audience. But like Zimou's latest film about the Rape of Nanking, telling the story from a white westerner's perspective is apparently totally taboo to US film critics. They forget that South Africa is the so-called rainbow nation - black, white, Asian, and mixed race (Coloured as referred to in the film - oh, dear!).The direction of the re-staged violence is dramatic and extremely potent - and not cinematic for some (got to have the goodies and the baddies not a melee!). The writing is jagged and in not too much depth of character (that would need many hours on a psychiatrist's couch!), but the acting is brave and bravura. Ryan Phillippe as Marinovitch carries on regardless but is caught short at the end - the deaths of friends finally bringing home what he has been hiding from - while Tyler Kitsch grabs hold of the flashy junkie role as Kevin, who cannot eventually face the world in the face of guilt over what he has witnessed. the rest of the acting, especially the black cameos of victims of the is wretchingly painful, and almost realist TV by actual victims. A film that should have a much wider audience - as much as Eastwood's feel-good movie of the 1995 Rugby World Cup!

Just a Grandmother in the suburbs, but so glad I found this excellent movie offered free by my cable company. From what some of the other reviewers have said, it would be well worth my time to get the DVD (and a new TV)for some details I missed and the extras on the DVD. I'll be looking up the book too.And the music is awesome.I do agree the sex/romance content detracted somewhat from the credibility of the film: 2 of the women did not appear to have any other life or function than fawning over their men. But isn't that always the way?