436. La battaglia di Algeri/The Battle of Algiers (1965)

Running Time: 122 minutes
Directed By: Gillo Pontecorvo
Written By: Gillo Pontecorvo, Franco Solinas
Main Cast: Brahim Hagiag, Jean Martin, Saadi Yacef
Click here to view the trailer

LONG LIVE ALGERIA!

What we have here is a film that currently sits about halfway up the IMDB TOP 250 list and a film that usually appears on "best of" lists, especially the ones put together by critics and film snobs. I can tell you that I did enjoy "The Battle of Algiers", but certainly not THAT much.

Retelling the plot from start to finish would be a bit difficult for me to do, so I'll just summarize the events and highlight certain, key events. The film takes place between the years of 1954 and 1960, during a time in which France had occupied Algeria for some 125 years. The film begins by introducing us to the main character, Ali la Pointe (Hagiag), through flashbacks. It shows la Pointe's rise from a juvenile delinquent into one of the head's of the FLN (National Liberation Front), the rebel group that aims to win freedom for Algeria, from France. The film uses date stamps on the screen, to give us specific times for the events that we're watching and doesn't hold back in showing us just how horrific the struggle got. Terrorist attacks were common, whether they were coming from the FLN or French paratroopers, lead by Col. Mathieu (Martin). The film focuses in on a group of Algerian liberation fighters (Ali la Pointe, El-hadi Jafar), but really isn't about one or two specific people, but rather the fight of an entire country to gain independence.

I have to admit that I wasn't really looking forward to this one. I had read a synopsis and knew the film was about Algeria fighting for it's independence and also knew that this was classified as a very political movie. I think we just discussed last night (in my review for "Odd Man Out") that I don't mix politics and movies. In fact, I don't mix politics with anything, because I'm just not the type of person who can hold much of an interest, when politics are brought into the conversation. With that being said, it's also no surprise that I knew nothing of the real Battle of Algiers and when I watch a movie based on real events, I think it always helps to be, at least, a little familiar with those events. So, in conclusion, my hopes weren't high. And, like many times before, I was wrong. The film did a fantastic job of holding my attention (it really grabbed my attention when the name Ennio Morricone flashed across the screen during the opening titles) and I can say that throughout the two hour length, I wasn't bored or wishing this flick would end. I thought certain scenes were executed nearly perfect, adding an element of suspense to a very real-life situation. The scene in which three different Algerian women deliver three different bombs to different parts of the city is an especially tense scene.

I can't say that the Morricone score was as effective here as it was during his time with Sergio Leone, but the score definitely worked, some pieces better than others. Without factoring in all of the praise that this film gets (and in case you're unfamiliar, it gets more than it's fair share, to say the least), I would've left this movie saying that it was a "good" movie. Not "very good", just "good". It surprised me, by being something more than I expected and getting me interested in a historical event that I previously knew nothing about and discounting the real-life aspect, it told a good story, to boot. With all that being said, I still just do not get all the praise. Yes, it's "good", but it's not THAT good. But hey, that's just one guys opinions and we all can't love them all. Sometimes a critically acclaimed "masterpiece" is going to come down the pike and I'm going to end up crapping all over it. Other times, I'll trump something up into the greatest thing since sliced bread and everyone else will tell me how terrible it is. You win some, you lose some - no big deal. "The Battle of Algiers" was good and I'm glad I can now say that I've seen it, but I can't say it has any shot at a TOP 20 spot.

RATING: 6/10 "good" is as good as this one's gonna' get. Like I said, I had a good time while it lasted and I'd even recommend it to certain tastes.

MOVIES WATCHED: 396
MOVIES LEFT TO WATCH: 605

January 13, 2012 4:58pm