Black Hawk Down
Movie Poster from Black Hawk Down
Directed by	Ridley Scott
Produced by	Jerry Bruckheimer Ridley Scott
Written by	Mark Bowden Ken Nolan
Starring	Josh Hartnett Ewan McGregor Tom Hardy Tom Sizemore William Fichtner Eric Bana Sam Shepard Orlando Bloom
Music by	Hans Zimmer, Denez Prigent
Cinematography	Slawomir Idziak
Editing by	Pietro Scalia
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date(s)	December 28, 2001
Running time	144 min. Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30 1937 in South Shields, Tyne and Wear) is a British Academy Award Nominated and Golden Globe Emmy Award and BAFTA Award winning Jerome Leon Bruckheimer (born September 21, 1945) better known by his professional name Jerry Bruckheimer, is an American film Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30 1937 in South Shields, Tyne and Wear) is a British Academy Award Nominated and Golden Globe Emmy Award and BAFTA Award winning Mark Robert Bowden (born July 17, 1951) is an American Writer. Joshua Daniel Hartnett (born July 21, 1978) is an American Actor. Ewan Gordon McGregor (born 31 March 1971 ˌjuːən məˈgrɛgər is a Scottish Actor, who has had significant success in mainstream indie and art Edward Thomas "Tom" Hardy (born September 15, 1977) is an English stage film and television Actor, not to be confused with the Thomas Edward "Tom" Sizemore Jr (born September 29, 1964) William Edward "Bill" Fichtner (born November 27, 1956) is an American Supporting actor, often credited as William Fichtner Eric Bana (born Eric Banadinovich; 9 August 1968 is an Australian Film and Television Actor. Sam Shepard (born November 5, 1943) is an American artist who worked as an award-winning Playwright, Writer and Actor. Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom (born 13 January 1977) is an English Actor. Hans Florian Zimmer (born September 12, 1957 in Frankfurt/Main, Germany) is an Academy Award, Grammy, and Golden Denez Prigent ( IPA:) born 17 Feb, 1966, is a French singer from Santec, in Finistère ( Breton: Penn Sławomir Idziak (born January 25, 1945 in Katowice, Poland) is a well-known Cinematographer, working on over forty Polish Pietro Scalia (born March 17 1960) is an Academy Award winning Italian-American Film editor. }} Columbia Pictures Industries Inc is an American Film production and distribution company Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar.
Language	English, Somali
Budget	$92 million
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Black Hawk Down is a 2001 war film by Ridley Scott, based on the book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War by Mark Bowden. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Somali ( Af Soomaali, الصوماليه is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by ethnic Somalis The year 2001 in film involved some significant events (For more about non-English films check sources in those languages War film is a Film genre concerned with Warfare usually about naval, air or land battles sometimes focusing instead on Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30 1937 in South Shields, Tyne and Wear) is a British Academy Award Nominated and Golden Globe Emmy Award and BAFTA Award winning Black Hawk Down A Story of Modern War is a book by Mark Bowden chronicling the U Mark Robert Bowden (born July 17, 1951) is an American Writer. It depicts the Battle of Mogadishu, which was part of the U. The Battle of Mogadishu (also referred to as the Battle of the Black Sea) or S. military's 1993 campaign to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known A warlord is a person with power who has military control over a subnational area due to Armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority General Mohamed Farrah Aidid (محمد فرح عيديدمحمد فرح عيديد December 15 1934 – August 2 1996 was a controversial Somali leader often described The movie stars an ensemble cast, including Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, Eric Bana, Ewen Bremner, William Fichtner, Sam Shepherd and Orlando Bloom. An ensemble cast is a cast in which the principal performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance in a dramatic production Joshua Daniel Hartnett (born July 21, 1978) is an American Actor. Ewan Gordon McGregor (born 31 March 1971 ˌjuːən məˈgrɛgər is a Scottish Actor, who has had significant success in mainstream indie and art Thomas Edward "Tom" Sizemore Jr (born September 29, 1964) Eric Bana (born Eric Banadinovich; 9 August 1968 is an Australian Film and Television Actor. Ewen Bremner (born 23 January 1972) is a Scottish Actor. Bremner was born in Edinburgh, a son of two art teachers William Edward "Bill" Fichtner (born November 27, 1956) is an American Supporting actor, often credited as William Fichtner Sam Shepherd may refer to Sam Shepherd (Groveland Four, who was killed by Sheriff Willis V Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom (born 13 January 1977) is an English Actor. Several of the main cast members had previously worked together with producer Jerry Bruckheimer in Pearl Harbor. Jerome Leon Bruckheimer (born September 21, 1945) better known by his professional name Jerry Bruckheimer, is an American film Pearl Harbor is a 2001 War film directed by Michael Bay. It features a large Ensemble cast, including Ben Affleck, ^[1] The film won two Academy Awards, for Film Editing and Sound in 2001. The 74th Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 2001, were held on March 24 2002, for the first time at the Kodak Theatre in Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar.

Plot

The film follows a mixed assault force of Delta operators, Army Rangers and Special Operations Aviation Regiment as they attempt to capture two of Mohammed Farrah Aidid's senior lieutenants from deep in Mogadishu's notorious Bakaara Market. For the computer game see Delta Force (video game. For the movie see The Delta Force (film. The United States Army Rangers or simply Army Rangers are specialized elite American light infantry and Special operations troops General Mohamed Farrah Aidid (محمد فرح عيديدمحمد فرح عيديد December 15 1934 – August 2 1996 was a controversial Somali leader often described Mogadishu ( Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar, Hamar; مقديشو Maqadīshū The Bakaara Market ( Somali: Suuqa Bakaaraha) is a Mogadishu open market and the largest in Somalia The mission was led by Maj Gen William Garrison, and was supposed to take no more than 1 hour. Major General or Major-General is a Military rank used in many countries William F Garrison is a retired Major General of the United States Army who was the commander of Operation Gothic Serpent, the military operation launched The extraction by the Delta team is successful, but the Somali militia, armed with RPGs, shot down two Black Hawk helicopters, and the resulting rescue extends the mission to over 15 hours. RPG or rocket-propelled grenade, is a loose term describing hand-held shoulder-launched Anti-tank weapons capable of firing an unguided WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

Staff Sergeant Matt Eversmann (Josh Hartnett) approaching the crash site of Super Six-One. For the Brush-footed butterfly Species, see Athyma selenophora. Joshua Daniel Hartnett (born July 21, 1978) is an American Actor.

The film follows many characters through build-up, the assault and rescue. It shows how Staff Sergeant Matt Eversmann was placed in charge of Ranger Chalk Four, before portraying the raid and successful extraction of the wanted persons, and shows the first injury, as PFC Todd Blackburn falls from a helicopter as it maneuvers to avoid an RPG. For the Brush-footed butterfly Species, see Athyma selenophora. Matthew Eversmann (born 1967 is a US Army Ranger and was the leader of Chalk 4 during the Battle of Mogadishu. Todd Daniel Blackburn (born October 25 1974 is a former US Army Ranger deployed with B Company 3rd Battalion to Mogadishu, Somalia during Operation This is the beginning of the indication that the troops are overwhelmed by the volume of enemy militia, and builds up to the two helicopter crashes: Super Six-One piloted by Cliff “Elvis” Wolcott, and Super Six-Four piloted by Mike Durant. Michael 'Mike' J Durant (born July 23, 1961) is the American pilot who was held prisoner after a raid in Mogadishu Somalia Durant is taken prisoner after the two Delta snipers who requested to be inserted near the crash site of Super Six-Four are killed while defending him.

The film also follows two Chalk Four machine gunners who are supposed to return with the extraction team, but miss the humvees as they leave, and get lost. One of them is deafened by machine-gun fire, but they eventually make their way back to Eversmann. Cpl Jamie Smith attempts to rescue one of them, whose backpack full of ammo has been shot and exploded, but Smith gets shot too, and would eventually bleed to death.

The film begins to reach its conclusion as the U. S. forces regain control with strafing runs by Little Bird helicopters, and a convoy of troops from the 10th Mountain Division arrive to extract the wounded. The MH-6 Little Bird, and its attack variant the AH-6, is a single-engine light helicopter used for Special operations aviation Back at the base, Norman "Hoot" Hooten begins to restock on ammunition, preparing to go back out on the next mission, and Eversmann tells a dead Jamie Smith that he will fulfill his dying wish. Norm "Hoot" Hooten is a former Delta operator who served in Somalia in 1993

The film ends with text informing the viewer that 19 Americans and approximately 1000 Somalis died in the conflict, Mike Durant's release, and about the death of Mohammed Farrah Aidid in 1996. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar)

Background and production

This project was originally the idea of director Simon West who urged producer Jerry Bruckheimer to obtain the rights of the book with a view to directing it himself. Simon West (born 1961 is an English Film director. Born in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, Simon West originally directed adverts including Jerome Leon Bruckheimer (born September 21, 1945) better known by his professional name Jerry Bruckheimer, is an American film However, West abandoned the project to direct Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001). Lara Croft Tomb Raider is a film adaptation of the Tomb Raider video game series

Despite the fact that Ken Nolan is the only credited writer, there were others that contributed uncredited. Sam Shepard wrote most of his own dialogue as Major General William F. Sam Shepard (born November 5, 1943) is an American artist who worked as an award-winning Playwright, Writer and Actor. Garrison; Eric Roth wrote crucial speeches for Josh Hartnett and Eric Bana to deliver in the closing minutes; Steven Zaillian made a dialogue-driven rewrite; and Stephen Gaghan contributed to the writing of the screenplay. Eric Roth (born New York, 22 March 1945) is an American screenwriter Steven Ernest Bernard Zaillian (born on 30 January 1953 in Fresno, California) is an American Screenwriter, Film director Stephen Whorton Gaghan (born May 6, 1965 in Louisville Kentucky) is an Academy Award and Emmy Award -winning American Although built largely from the accounts of the soldiers who participated in the operation, Spc. John Stebbins was replaced by the fictional character John Grimes, as Stebbins was convicted by court martial in 1999 for sexually assaulting his daughter. John Stebbins (born 1965 was an American soldier who fought in the Battle of Mogadishu. ^[2] Bowden himself claimed that the Pentagon requested this change. ^[3] Author Mark Bowden wrote early drafts of the screenplay, before Jerry Bruckheimer turned it over. The scene between Mike Durant and Firimbi is a portion from one of Bowden's early drafts.

About forty of the actors who were portraying Rangers were sent to Fort Benning to attend a two week crash course in becoming Rangers, four of the actors portraying Delta Operators were sent to Fort Bragg and were given a two week Commando Course by members of the 1st Special Warfare Training Group. Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southwest Ron Eldard and the several of the actors who portrayed the pilots of the 160th SOAR went to Fort Campbell, Kentucky and were given a lecture by Michael Durant, pilot of Super Six Four and portrayed by Ron Eldard in the movie, and by several Little Bird and Black Hawk pilots. Michael 'Mike' J Durant (born July 23, 1961) is the American pilot who was held prisoner after a raid in Mogadishu Somalia

The directors enlisted the help of the US Army, and all Black Hawks and Little Birds used during the filming were from the 160th SOAR, (Special Operations Aviation Regiment) and most of the pilots (such as Keith Jones who delivers a small amount of dialogue during the movie) were involved in the actual battle on 3-4 October 1993. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The MH-6 Little Bird, and its attack variant the AH-6, is a single-engine light helicopter used for Special operations aviation The US Army also supplied the ground vehicles and weapons. Additionally, a platoon of Rangers from Bravo Company, 3/75 Ranger Regiment (the same company that was involved in the events of the movie) were employed to do the fast-roping scenes and act as extras. The United States Army Rangers or simply Army Rangers are specialized elite American light infantry and Special operations troops Fast-roping is a technique for descending a thick Rope. It is useful for deploying troops from a Helicopter in places where the helicopter itself is unable or

Much of the film was shot in the twin cities Rabat and Salé, Morocco because the film-makers had decided that filming in Somalia would have been too dangerous. Rabat ( Arabic الرباط, transliterated ar-Rabāṭ or ar-Ribāṭ) population 2 million ( 2007 estimate) is the For the Canadian figure skater see Jamie Salé. For the Finnish Union of Sex Workers see Salli. Morocco (المغرب "al-Maghrib" officially the Kingdom of Morocco (المملكة المغربية is a country located in North Africa Moreover, none of the actors featured in the movie were Somalis. Scenes taking place at the Task Force Ranger base were filmed at Kénitra. Kenitra ( Arabic name القنيطرة, transliterated: Al-Qonaitirah, the little bridge) is a city in Morocco, formerly

Cast

Reception

Box office performance

When Black Hawk Down was first released on December 28, 2001, it had a limited release, opening at only 4 theatres. Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Limited release is a term in the American Motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country (typically in cities As a result, it earned only $179,823 in its first weekend. However, on January 18, 2002, the film had its wide release, opening at 3,101 theatres and earning $28,611,736 in its first wide release weekend to finish first at the box office. Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Wide release is a term in the American Motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing nationally (as opposed to a few cinemas in cities such as This is a list of films which have placed number one at the weekend Box office in the United States during 2002. As it opened on the Martin Lurther King holiday, the film earned an additional $5,014,475 from the extra day of the long weekend. Martin Luther King Jr Day is a United States Holiday marking the birthdate of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr Long weekend is a term used in Western countries to denote a Weekend that is at least three days long (a three-day weekend) due to a Holiday Black Hawk Down would go on to finish first at the box office for the next two weekends. When the film was pulled from theatres on April 14, 2002, it had grossed $108,638,745 domestically and $64,350,906 internationally, for a total worldwide gross of $172,989,651. Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[6]

Awards

The film won the following awards:

• the 2002 Academy Award for Best Editing (Pietro Scalia)
• the 2002 Academy Award for Best Sound (Michael Minkler, Myron Nettinga, Chris Munro)
• the 2002 Golden Reel Award from the Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA for Best Sound Editing - Effects and Foley, Domestic Feature Film
• the 2002 Harry Award

It was also nominated for the following awards:

• the 2002 Academy Award for Best Director (Ridley Scott)
• the 2002 Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Slawomir Idziak)
• the 2002 AFI Film Award for AFI Cinematographer of the Year (Slawomir Idziak)
• the 2002 AFI Film Award for AFI Director of the Year (Ridley Scott)
• the 2002 AFI Film Award for AFI Editor of the Year (Pietro Scalia)
• the 2002 AFI Film Award for AFI Movie of the Year (Jerry Bruckheimer, Ridley Scott)
• the 2002 AFI Film Award for AFI Production Designer of the Year (Arthur Max)
• the 2002 MTV Movie Award for MTV Movie Award Best Action Sequence (First helicopter crash)
• the 2002 MTV Movie Award for MTV Movie Award Best Movie
• the 2002 WGA Award (Screen) for Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published (Ken Nolan)
• the 2002 Teen Choice Award for Film - Choice Actor, Drama/Action Adventure (Josh Hartnett)
• the 2002 Teen Choice Award for Film - Choice Movie, Drama/Action Adventure
• the 2002 Golden Reel Award from the Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA for Best Sound Editing - Dialogue and A. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. The MTV Movie Awards is a film awards show presented annually on MTV ( Music Television) The Teen Choice Awards is an awards show presented annually by FOX. D. R. , Domestic Feature Film
• the 2002 Golden Trailer for Best Drama
• the 2002 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures (Ridley Scott)

Controversy

Soon after Black Hawk Down's release, several organizations, including The Somalian Justice Advocacy Center in California, called for its boycott and denounced what they felt was its brutal and dehumanizing depiction of Somalis. ^[7]

In a radio interview, Brendan Sexton, an actor in the movie, testified that the version of the film which made it onto theater screens was significantly different from the one recounted in the original script. Brendan Eugene Sexton III (born February 21, 1980) is an American Actor. According to him, many scenes asking hard questions of the U. S. troops with regard to the violent realities of war, the true purpose of their mission in Somalia, etc. were cut out. ^[8]

Sexton wrote an article in 2002 where he maintained that Black Hawk Down failed to explain the reasons behind the Somali population's opposition to the U. S. military presence in their country:

The Somalis are portrayed as if they don't know what's going on, as if they're trying to kill the Americans because they--like all other "evildoers"--will do anything to bite the hand that feeds them. But the Somalis aren't a stupid people. In fact, many were upset because the U. S. military presence propped up people tied to the old, corrupt Barre regime. Mohamed Siad Barre (Maxamed Siyaad Barre محمّد سياد بري) (b ^[9]

In a review featured in The New York Times, film critic Elvis Mitchell also expressed dissatisfaction at the film's "lack of characterization". ^[10]

Malaysian military officials whose troops were also involved in the fighting have raised complaints regarding Black Hawk Down's accuracy. Retired Brigadier-General Abdul Latif-Ahmed, who at the time commanded Malaysian forces in Mogadishu, wished to set the record straight in an interview with the AFP news agency:

Malaysian movie-goers will be under the wrong impression that the real battle was fought by the Americans alone, while we were mere bus drivers to ferry them out. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and ^[11]

Critics also charge that the African American actors chosen to play the Somalis in the film do not in the least bit resemble the racially unique peoples of the Horn of Africa nor does the language they communicate in sound like the Afro-Asiatic tongue spoken by the Somali people. The Horn of Africa (alternatively Northeast Africa, and sometimes Somali Peninsula; shortened to HOA) is a Peninsula in East Africa The Afro-Asiatic languages constitute a Language family with about 375 languages ( SIL estimate and more than 300 million speakers spread throughout North Africa Somalis ( Soomaaliyeed, الصوماليون are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. ^[12][13] The abrasive manner in which lines are delivered and the film's inauthentic vision of Somali culture, they add, also fails to capture the tone, mannerisms and spirit of actual life in Somalia. ^[14]

Soundtrack

Main article: Black Hawk Down (soundtrack)

References

External links

• Black Hawk Down at the Internet Movie Database
• The Philadelphia Inquirer
• Warlord thumbs down for Somalia film, BBC News 29 January 2002
• Medal of Honor Recipients on Film