Movie Review: The Hunting Party

The Hunting Party is one of those problematic films in which the director, understanding that his characters have no idea what is going on, is unable to realize that this requires him to have an extremely firm grasp on the story he wants to tell, even if that story is one of chaos.

The Hunting Party, which is loosely based on a true story, follows the adventures of a disgraced war-reporter, his old camera man, and the clueless son of a network executive as they run around Eastern Europe trying to capture an interview with, or perhaps just capture, a notorious war criminal.  Which would be problematic enough without the tiny little issue that everyone seems to think they're with the CIA.

Richard Gere, as the former reporter looking more to cash in than for redemption in his field is fantastic, and after years of my not getting it, I must say, surprisingly attractive.  Terence Howard and Jesse Eisenberg are also both great and believable and the chemistry of the three leads on a boy’s adventure works so well as to be uncomfortable in moments; even friendships have places that are best kept out of public life.

The movie is most successful when it’s in “war reporters are insane” mode, but I’m not sure how true it rings to the average audience member.  As an ex-reporter I’ve known and worked with some of the folks that do this stuff for a living, and while lots of them are reasonably sane people closely wed to the appropriate standards of journalistic ethics, a lot of them are also complete danger-junkies who carry a bottle of scotch and the most absurd possibly true stories you’ve ever heard with them wherever they go.

Less useful in the film are the message moments that are delivered without humor.  They’re not as effective and often have weak dialogue.  They're also not necessary; some of the film’s funniest moments are its most shocking and gutting.  The Hunting Party does exercise restraint when it comes to grief though, showing rather than telling to powerful effect.

This is a flawed film that doesn’t know whether it wants to be a comedy, a satire, an adventure or even a message movie about changing the world.  But it will keep you entertained for a few hours while raising some very interesting questions.  Be careful though, it may also give you the urge to run around and get shot at for a living.