Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- serious
- somber
- historical drama night
- war film marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the film well-made and solidly acted with modestly compelling wartime suspense, but considered its many subplots a significant weakness.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
McNamara maintains authority and morale among American prisoners while German control and internal conflict threaten the camp's code of honor.
The court martial over a camp murder is orchestrated to distract the German commandant while McNamara advances his escape and sabotage plan.
Lt. Lincoln Scott's position as a Tuskegee Airman and the presence of racist fellow prisoners make xenophobia and military solidarity central pressures.
The German prison camp, its watchful commandant, and the prisoners' covert preparations create sustained tension under confinement.
Films like Hart's War, and why
The Great Escape
shared world war ii setting, prisoner-of-war drama, military honor, and tense institutional conflict
Stalag 17
shared wartime captivity, courtroom strategy, moral pressure, and ensemble military drama
A Soldier's Story
shared world war ii military drama, racial tension, courtroom proceedings, and questions of duty
Movie Details
- Director
- Gregory Hoblit
- Release Date
- 2002-02-15
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (1110)
Cast
- Bruce Willis
- Colin Farrell
- Terrence Howard
- Marcel Iureș
- Cole Hauser
- Linus Roache
- Vicellous Shannon
- Rory Cochrane
- Joe Spano
- Michael Weston
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Hart's War about?
- An imprisoned American colonel turns a murder tribunal inside a German POW camp into cover for a desperate wartime escape and sabotage mission.
- What is Hart's War like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hart's War as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Hart's War violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Hart's War as moderate.
- What did critics think of Hart's War?
- Critics generally found the film well-made and solidly acted with modestly compelling wartime suspense, but considered its many subplots a significant weakness.
- Which films are like Hart's War?
- Films with a similar feel include The Great Escape, Stalag 17, and A Soldier's Story.
- How long is Hart's War?
- Hart's War runs 125 minutes.
- Where can I watch Hart's War?
- In United States, Hart's War streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
