Review of The Bang Bang Club (2011) by Dave J — 22 Mar 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013.
(2010) The Bang Bang Club.
DOCU-DRAMA.
What Tom Cruise is to "Top Gun" is what Ryan Phillipe is to "The Bang Bang Club" - with the only thing going for it is that this one is supposedly based on fact.
The dramatization of young white yuppie- looking photographers taking pictures during one of Africa's worst when Mandela became President causing many heated civil war clashes- some more shocking than others. The term "the bang bang club" is just a figure of speech focusing a small group of 4 photographers which also includes besides Phillipe, Taylor Kitsch as Carter, Frank Rautenbach as Ken and Neels VanJaarsveld as Joao Silva. Based on the book written by Greg Marinovich and João Silva with Ryan Phillipe as Greg, co-adapted the screenplay and directed by Steven Silver this film is filled with many silly one liners as well as unrealistic interaction moments that can make anyone cringe. Phillipe is not a credible actor in this nor much of film's situations meaning that it doesn't seem 'real' but rather pretentious.
There's only two "almost" authentic scenes throughout which also includes the end showcasing the real so-called 'the bang bang club' including actual photographs which it could've been intriguing- but overall a meh. Watch 1985 "Salvador" starring James Woods or 1983 "Under Fire" starring Gene Hackman instead.
2 out of 4 stars for the effort.
This review of The Bang Bang Club (2011) was written by Dave J on 22 Mar 2013.
The Bang Bang Club has generally received mixed reviews.
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