Download The Hunting Party Movie
Adventure / Comedy / Drama / Thriller produced in [ 2007, USA, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina ]
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| Director(s): | Richard Shepard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IMDB Rating: | 7.40 out of 10 (624 votes) |
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| Runtime: | 103 minutes |
| Resolution: | 1280x544 px |
| Codec: | V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC |
| Bit Rate: | 5056 kbps |
| FPS: | 23.976 |
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Technical Information
| Type | Resolution | Codec | Bitrate | Audio Channels |
| Language: English | 48 kHz | AC3 | 640 kbps | 6 |
| File Name | Size | Download |
| Hunting_Party.mkv | 4477.72 MiB | Download |
| Total Size: | 4477.72 MiB |
Storyline
- How can they find the world's most wanted war criminal when the C.I.A. can't? [by actually looking]
Visitor Reviews
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A Positive(ly Cynical) Film posted on 20 Aug 2009
This film belongs as much, if not more, to Terrence Howard, than Mr. Gere. It also belongs to the writer/director,Richard Shepard, who brings a unity of creativity to the project.It is a pleasure to see Mr. Howard play against (stereo)type. Unusual for an American film, "The Hunting Party" does not use as a character device the (non)issue of Mr. Howard's "race". The only references to ethnicity are the quite appropriate expositions of the Muslim/Christian dichotomy that culminated in the "ethnic cleansing"(read genocide) during the war.It is also refreshing to see an American film that portrays Muslims as something other than terrorists.Mr. Howard is the central character in the film, not Gere. The film is told from Howard's point of view, though Gere remains the conscience of the piece. Both play media types in one of the most (over)used film devices: the Western reporter whom the intended audience is supposed to empathise with, and therefore, vicariously, with the moral stance of the film. Minor quibble; I'm sure we'll see it again.Similar in tone to "The Lord of War", this film seeks to remind viewers of some recent history: the war in the former Yugoslavia and the on-going involvement of the international community. Using satire to soften the didactics of the script, the film never shies away from the horrors of, and the fog, of war.Adding authenticity to the film are the location shoots in Boznia and Croatia.The film also draws upon Michael Winterbottom's 1997 film "Welcome to Sarajevo", which is a little more hard-hitting, but looks at a somewhat different aspect of the war.Those of you who feel that this film has a "liberal" bias should rethink this perspective. This film casts a cynical eye towards all ideologies, except those of simple people who just want to raise their families in peace, and people who understand the difference between right and wrong, rather than relativistic shades of grey.
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Most war movies you see nowadays have the same (or similar) plot. The Americans go to a foreign land, fight some bad guys, get shot/die then return home. Richard Shepard's 'The Hunting Party' mixes this formula up a little. With good acting, and well cast roles The Hunting Party isn't your usual war movie.The movie starts off with two reporters: Richard Gere as Simon Hunt and Terrence Howard as Duck, running around in a war zone, seemingly not nervous at all. Duck is Simon Hunts' camera man. This movie was continually narrated by Howards' character, but leaves lot of room for dialogue.Fast forward to what is 1994, and Simon and Duck (who got his nickname for dodging bullets in dangerous environments) are covering the war torn Bosnia. After seeing the war, Simon 'snaps' and begins to drink heavily while on a live television newscast, promptly getting himself fired from the network. Duck on the other hand is promoted to the head camera man of the network.Fast forward again to 2000, where Duck is covering a piece about the peace treaty being signed in Bosnia. Enter Simon again, now a drunken cynic. Sitting in Ducks' cushy hotel room Simon asks Duck to shoot a short, stand-up interview of the peace treaty, just for old times' sake. Duck agrees, but is in for much more than that. When Simon convinces Duck to help him catch the war criminal behind all the wreckage, named 'The Fox' (real name Rhganondavic Boghdanovic but nicknamed Fox for his enjoyment of hunting Fox's). After Duck agrees to join him, he also agrees to take along a young VPs son named Benjamin, played by Jesse Eisenberg.Gere reiterated the fact that he's one of the best actors today, and Howard turned in a great performance. The biggest acting surprise here though, is Benjamin played by Jesse Eisenberg. His performance as the scared, jumpy (but bold on the inside) young journalist was perfect.The scenery of this film was quite good as well, capturing the Bosnian countryside and cities well. One of the best parts of this movie was how well flashbacks were utilized. They filled in perfectly a background story for this movie, in an easy to understand manner.However, this movie did have some noticeable faults. The cinematography, for one was not fantastic. Some of the camera shots were off often at strange angles. The music also wasn't great, as some sounds in the background would have helped set the moods in the movie a little better.Although this movie is a little over the top, this movie acknowledges it in the beginning saying 'Only the most ridiculous parts of this movie are true.'Tthis movie is partly based on an Esquire article written by Scott Anderson, about how he and other journalists (through drunk conversations) somehow managed to locate a war criminal in Bosnia.All in all, this is a solid movie, with good acting by the cast, lots of action, and finds a way to be gripping-yet humorous at the same time. If you're in the mood for a good action-comedy-drama type movie 'The Hunting Party.'
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Es una buena pelicula ,aunque no lo que uno espera de ella ,esta bien logrado el mensaje ,aunque cruel porque en realidad cosas como estas ocurrieron y ocurren en la actualidad ,las actuaciones tan buenas como lo usual para la calidad de estos dos grandes actores,necesitarian una mejor trama,para mi es una buena,porque muestra lo dura y arriesgada que es la vida de los periodistas y lo dificil que es tratar de decir la verdad cuando lo que se trata de decir es algo para llamar la atencion del televidente y no lo que se debe expresar en realidad.
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This is more than an entertaining film, but an allegory of our times. The point being if the problem were solved, our so called leaders would have nothing left to do. If they caught Osama, who could they spend millions more dollars to chase. If African-Americans were self sufficient, Jesse Jackson would need to look for a job! Highly recommended!
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Based on an article that was published in Esquire, The Hunting Party tells the story of three journalists—actually five as the end of the film will explain during its comical "what was true and what wasn't" montage—who took it upon themselves to find the most wanted war criminal in the world, Bosnia's "The Fox". Brought to screen by Richard Shepard, this is a movie that keeps you highly enthralled throughout. It may not be as solid a film as his previous effort, the underrated comedy The Matador, because it tries to push an agenda against all that was working for it. At its best, everything is absolutely pitch-perfect: taut thrills, suspenseful story, and great acting. As for the worst, it becomes a diatribe on how the world's governments care more about money than safety. Honestly, we all know this and don't need our entertainment to jam it into our skulls even more. Falling into a growing category for me—one that includes Blood Diamond—the end result here is a great film that just can't stop from trying to be more than it is, stumbling on its misguided mission rather than allowing its natural momentum to carry it through to the finish.Stylistically this thing is beautiful to look at. I enjoyed the use of freeze-frames during the exposition scenes and the moments in warzones come across as real, dangerous, and above all else exciting. The joy and genuine laughter emitting from our leads after they narrowly escape death over and over again adds to the code of living life to the fullest that they both follow. Shepard holds some cards close to his chest also, showing us events leading up to Simon Hunt's breakdown, all but killing his career, however not explaining the entire story until absolutely necessary. Each character's motives aren't exactly the same towards the end as they were in the beginning. What's first a quest for redemption (Hunt), youthful vibrancy (Duck), and an excuse to show his father that he is made of more than a cushy Harvard school lifestyle (Benjamin) soon becomes a mission to do the right thing. These men are fighting for civility and humanity, two things that have left that part of the world and is in desperate need for return.One can't fault any of our journalistic trio for anything they may find wrong with the final product. Richard Gere is spectacular as the fallen reporter, who we will eventually find has lost more than just his career. The desperation is always true and his actions perfectly played against the more sane members of the troupe. Terrence Howard shows us how great he can be and makes us wonder why he still feels the need to choose some god-awful movies between his good ones. The transformation he takes, in just a few short cuts, is rather staggering while essential to his role's motives later on. Going from an adrenaline junkie cameraman to a stand-in executive whose field work entails setting up outside the White House and Capital Hill almost makes you wonder how he ever could have changed so much. Then you think about the money, the security, and the relaxation time and soon the concept seems too good for anyone to pass up. The taste of danger never left, however, and it is his wrestling with that, by using some nicely timed humor, that helps carry the story to its conclusion. As for the boss's son, on his first foreign correspondence, Jesse Eisenberg epitomizes the book-smartass attitude someone in that position would have. It is his willingness to learn and bullheaded mindset to not let these two guys do anything to make him out to be a wuss that lead him to becoming an integral part to the team and mission at hand.Along with them, every character that is met with on the journey to find "The Fox" adds just the right amount of infused quirk needed to keep interest. While familiar faces like James Brolin and Diane Kruger play their parts well, it is a guy like Mark Ivanir as Boris the UN executive that shines. He is caught up in this imaginary scheme of CIA hit squads coming in to do that which he wishes he could. It appears he has watched too many American movies and the dream of being a real live Deepthroat seems to appeal to his sensibilities as he attempts to help the trio in their quest to find that which is never found. These bit parts bring much of the laughter and absurdity that counterbalances the abundance of drama and high emotional toll seen at every turn. The Hunting Party does not try and sugar-coat what is going on in the Balkans and pays much attention in showing the truth and not what is read in the history books, both figuratively and literally—the book in physical form during a nice scene of Howard opening the innocent eyes of Eisenberg in a bar, along with the help of four of the real-life reporters on which the film is based.Shot with some wonderful compositions and blocking of actors to build a sense of suspense and fear, Shepard has crafted a winner. Besides a too-long scene that goes on and on about how the UN and people in power are only out to create good PR without any work going towards punishing the monsters running free, I have little to complain about. I was almost completely removed from enjoyment with the horribly trite and overused joke with the ending subtitled words, but was redeemed with the inventive "what was real" sequence. To see the humor that was bubbling under the surface for the duration stick to the screen even after the story was finished brought the smile back to my face and made me remember all that worked, letting the more wrong than right final act to dissolve into the background.
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The Hunting Party is not a bad film and it entertained me...but I think it's a completely average film and with some important fails.First of all,I have to mention the weakest point from this film.I felt that director and screenwriter Richard Shepard did not know what focus he had to take for this movie.For some moments,the film is a politic mystery;for other moments,it's an adventure film and for other moments,it's a comedy.It does not bother me when a movie mix genres but The Hunting Party does not engage with any of them,so it falls short in everyone,not to mention that the three genres do not flow too well.I also think this movie needed some more enthusiasm.Still,this movie is good.Richard Gere and the great Terrence Howard bring good performances and,in spite of all the complaints,I have to admit this movie entertained me.The Hunting Party is a good film but I found it completely average.I think I can recommend it with the warning that the film is nothing special.Rating:6.5
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Do people always reject negative reviews because they want a positive attitude about everything? posted on 13 Jun 2009
Remember the movie Romancing the Stone? Or those 1980's spy/comedies that will never be rented again? It's odd to me that people will rate this film as if it was really worthwhile. It did begin as potential entertainment, not as a really interesting or realistic political drama by any means. It soon however is betrayed by its forced canned jokes and cookie cutter soundtrack and you will realize you have been watching a TV show produced only for revenue disguised behind someones screenplay with potential. This could probably suffice as a satisfactory date movie but deserves a total rating no higher than 5.5. I could not finish watching it.
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Am ı being so sensitive in my comments about films which have Islamic issues. İf so, it only means the producers has hit the target, because there is no way they forget the Muslim's feelings for their films. They sure must making some searching and speaking for the people like me we are surprised and impressed. So there are people still cares for the world, for meaningless wars, there are people on this planet hoping the sorrows will end.The film is about three journalists seeking a war criminal who has slaughtered Muslim's in Bosnia. Richard Gere is always Richard Gere calm acting for most times, no overacting, pure acting. Hollywood's rising star Terrence Howard does a good job, a supporting team mate, giving the film all he got (as he did in "The Brave One") The story is not boring. But i warn you the scenes after slaughter have been given so dramatic that you may not dare to watch it tears a Muslim's heart apart. Except those scenes you will sure enjoy it. And you will pause the DVD in the messages in the ending part.Films mostly are not just for entertaining now. They are communication gadgets. And they are making nations come closer, share each other's senses, try to understand.There is unfortunately some mistakes in Islamic way of living. Why do producers keep on doing mistakes at this point although they have good intentions. One of three of the world is Muslim we all watch your films as we feel close to them. İt is hard to understand.İt is a fine film from a brilliant director.
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That Richard Gere character... do you believe this guy! I am actually more sophisticated than I may seem after this comment but this is pure US propaganda trash... and a pure waste of money as well.Anything that serves our propaganda machine. Nothing about the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda or the wars in Somalia & Erithrea or the slaughtering of innocent Palestinians in their homes.Those pure Muslims that never touched even one's hair were tortured and killed by the mean & corrupted Serbians.I am sure that 99.5% of the US citizens haven't got the slightest idea where the above mentioned countries are placed (in the world map that is)......and as I mentioned before THIS IS A BAD MOVIE (either way)
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I went into a sneak peek screening of the hunting party with high hopes, I've never commented before on films, because i feel all has been said towards them, although i had to say, beyond the horrible service i received in the theater, When the film started it came off with an expected bang, typical politically embraced plot, as the film seemed to progress i found Mr.Howard's narration quite unnecessary and unneeded. The plot went along as something i did not expect which was a cliché, and immature dialog with a plot that went to bore and distract waiting for something to happen other than thinking on what did, when a part would arise that had a climatic draw, it was not very over-thought and quite straight forward, do not expect mind binding political agendas, what i found was a quite overused defense towards issues already been presented only in a very misplaced and hard to understand story and dialog structure, a waste of my time and definitely not worth the $11.95 i spent on the admission price,
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Suspense. Action. Violence. Even some thrills. Richard Gere plays a one-time top news reporter that has suffered a meltdown...the bad thing is it happened live on the air. His cameraman Terrence Howard in turn gets a promotion and samples the high life of the news biz. While in Serbia, the two meet up and decide to try and track down a missing war criminal(Ljubomir Kerekes), one of the most ruthless in Eastern Europe. Hostile locals and underworld figures mistake them for C.I.A. and the s@^t begins to hit the fan. Dodging bullets and bombs to get a scoop is one thing...escaping alive is another. I think the "F" word was used so many times in order to get an R rating. I wouldn't go out of my way to watch again. Others in the cast: James Brolin, Jesse Eisenberg, Damir Saban and Scott Anderson.
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Overall I thought that it was a very well done movie, but I do have to agree with other users that all Yugoslavians (Bosnian, Muslim, Serbs, Croats) were displayed wrongly. The UN was the most ridic part, was that guy even Bosnian?(did not seem to me that way). Considering I am from ex- Yugoslvia I have to say that I really loved all the scenic scenes. Bosnia is so beautiful and it really is a shame that the people of Bosnia were displayed so cruel. A lot of Bosnian and Croatian people are very friendly and welcoming to anyone that comes their way. Of course there are bad Bosnians, but that is the minority and those are the men who are extreme believers. Those Serbs are like the KKK in America or NAzi Germans- extremely strong believers of racism. NOT EVERYONE IS LIKE THAT! The movie would have scored an even better rating with me if it did not rip apart the Bosnian people in such a bad way.
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'Matador' director Richard Shephard gives Richard Gere one of his more appealing (and surprisingly well-fitting) roles as the reckless, brave war journalist Simon. He and Terrence Howard's photographer Duck were a fabulous combat news team till Simon had a meltdown on the air and was exiled to obscure freelancing while Terrence was kicked upstairs to working with the network's chief anchorman in New York. A reunion to cover the fifth anniversary of Bosnian peace causes the two to reunite, joined by a network VP's eager young Harvard son (Jesse Eisenberg, of 'The Squid and the Whale') on a wild hunt for "the Fox"—a Bosnian war criminal responsible for the rape and slaughter of thousands of Moslems; supposedly there's a $5 million reward for his capture. Simon is broke, but says he just wants an interview. As soon as they get within miles of what may be the Fox's lair they're assumed by everybody to be CIA assassins. Mayhem—and a happy resolution—follow. Gere catches just the right wild ironic tone throughout and his cohorts are fine. More successful and more satisfying than the currently overpraised, and politically null 'Eastern Promises.' But who'd want to see this? It's mostly just factually true, and the treatment is a little too cynical for its political punch to follow through. Adapted from a Scott K. Anderson 'Esquire' magazine article of several years ago, the movie relates to 'Three Kings' and 'Salvador.'
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This movie is a hard one to classify as it blends comedy and drama rather well along with being a war-thriller of sorts. In the vein of THE MATADOR (2005), this movie stars out with a rather eccentric man, played by Richard Gere, in addition to having a rather good background lead up to his rather strange behavior. The comedy and drama play out in fascinating peaks and valleys, though it fails to be as consistent towards the end as THE MATADOR. The teamwork between Richard Gere and his co-star Terrence Howard (who at times reminds one of Cuba Gooding Jr.) is fun and smooth. Eventually these two men have been together are torn apart (a period in the movie that is well done) and thrown back together again. Unfortunately, the United Nations official in the movie becomes a bit too stereotypically odd that throws the audience out from the experience of the movie. The scenes leading to the end aren't as nicely tight and twisting as THE MATADOR, but do make for a nice tie in to the title of the movie. If the movie had been as fun and cynical as the written narrative words displayed during the beginning of the end credits, the movie would have had a quaint charm that could have made it a great movie. Richard demonstrates a nice range of emotions and behavior and is some ways the depth of emotional power in this movie exceeds that of THE MATADOR which is unfortunate as the entire context in which the emotion is played out isn't as appealing as THE MATADOR as a movie. Overall this is a good movie, with an elevated use of comedy-drama that continues to raise the bar for future movies. Seven out of Ten Stars.
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The Hunting Party harkens back to a trend in the 1980s of films about journalists in war-torn Third World countries: Under Fire, The Killing Fields, and Salvador (Special Edition). These films featured flawed reporters putting their lives on the line for hard-hitting truths and righteous causes. In the 1990s, this trend seemed to fade with a few notable exceptions like The Insider but now The Hunting Party attempts to revive this type of film for our politically charged times.
For two thirds of The Hunting Party, director Richard Shepard (The Matador (Widescreen Edition)) maintains a tense mood while injecting moments of comedy as the protagonists get closer to the Fox and find themselves, rather frighteningly, at his mercy. However, for the last third, they turn the tables on their prey. The film ends on a wonderfully cheeky note with an epilogue that lets us know what was based on fact and what was made up. Most importantly, The Hunting Party asks questions like why are notorious war criminals in Bosnia have not been caught and with apparently very little to no effort? The audience is left to ponder the answer.
There is an audio commentary with writer/director Richard Shepard. He points out that they actually shot on location in Croatia and Bosnia. In the film's opening battle scenes, Gere and Howard did their own stunts (including being precarious close to real explosions). It was important for him to shoot on location because he wanted the cast and crew to see the places where the actual events took place. Shepard delivers an engaging, chatty track that is entertaining and informative.
Also included are six deleted scenes with optional commentary by Shepard. There is an extension of a scene where we learn how Duck got his nickname. There is a nice scene where our three protagonists discuss a conspiracy theory about the Fox. Shepard is fairly candid about why this footage was cut and laments the removal of some of it.
"Making The Hunting Party" features Shepard talking about how he wanted to make a film in a post-war city and first considered Baghdad but read a story in Esquire magazine about a group of journalists' search for a Bosnian war criminal and that inspired him to dramatize the story in a film.
"The Real Hunting Party" features Shepard interviewing two of the journalists - John Falk and Scott Anderson - included in the Esquire article that inspired the film for 30 minutes. The two reporters talk about the actual events and come across (not surprisingly) as very personable and natural storytellers.
"What I Did On My Summer Vacation" is the actual Esquire article and is a real nice touch that they included it on the DVD as you can now read the source material.
Finally, there is a theatrical trailer. -
The movie is in the same class as 'Zodiac' in that it uses real events and people, keeps up the suspense and, in the end, gets one sooooo very angry at a system that knows what to do, what is right, and doesn't follow through allowing people to get away with murder. 'Hunting Party' is actually almost unbelievable but at the end, you learn the truth of a number of the actual people in the movie. Also Gere does such a good job with what happens when a journalist can no longer be simply a reporter.
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At first glance, during the music and opening sequences of THE HUNTING PARTY, it is difficult to ascertain if the film about to be seen is a comedy or a docudrama about a genocidal maniac. Once the repartee of dialog sets in we realize that journalists require a certain mindset and vantage that allows them to cover war and other atrocities and once that tenor is adjusted the film makes solid sense.Based on a true story by Scott Anderson (a journalist) THE HUNTING PARTY (written for the screen by Richard Shepard who also directs) deals with a top notch journalist Simon (Richard Gere) on the skids and his buddy cameraman Duck (Terrence Howard) and youngster journalist Benjamin (Jesse Eisenberg) who meet up after Simon's self imposed exile to follow a lead to 'interview' The Fox (Ljubomir Kerekes), the most wanted war criminal from the Bosnia/Croatian war. Their trail follows life-threatening chases and captures and escapes until they expose what the CIA has been doing to prevent - the capture of this heinous maniac. While the atmosphere is rather grim, the production is pitch perfect and the performances by Gere, Howard, and Eisenberg manage to reveal the complexities of the mental states and bizarre outlooks of journalists who elect to be right next to the horrors of war and crime in order to deliver a story. Food for thought here, and a much different approach to the life of correspondents than we've had before. And, it is based on fact! Grady Harp
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This movie is using a terrible bloody war to make American culture look good. All of the cheesy lines and frequently used swear words make this movie totally meaningless. Messages you get from the film are that there is a lot of war crimes committed in this war and the people that carry out crimes are pure evil. and that these American guys are the best guys around.i cant believe that someone could make such a stupid movie let alone how Richard Gere could act on it. throw in a famous actor and a funny black guy and a nerdy Jewish kid with an afro and we got a movie. I cant say anything else its just too bad, Don't waste your time! seriously i would rather watch a grey concrete wall for a week, id get more enjoyment out of it.
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When former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic—allegedly responsible for as a quarter of a million deaths during the Bosnian War and one of the most wanted men in the world for more than a decade—was caught in Belgrade last month, it wasn't just the suddenness of his capture that caught the media's attention but rather the circumstances surrounding his evasion. Karadzic donned owl-eyed glasses, grew a sweeping white beard that covered half his face and deigned to call himself Dr. Dragan David Dabic, a New Age practitioner of alternative medicine. And even incognito, he willfully put himself in the public eye by giving speeches on holistic practices and sexual therapy, as well as writing various articles in the fitness magazines on the importance of healthy living and spirituality.But his remarkable ability to avoid the United Nations and international authorities wasn't all down to his guile and cunning of never having to reach for a razor blade ever again. There were close calls during cloak-and-dagger operations that suddenly went dead just as they caught whiff of Karadzic, among the numerous other gild-edged political opportunities during the later part of the 1990s to have apprehended the former President of Republika Srpska. That is, if you were to believe his still vocal Serbian ultranationalists, some staunchly believing that their idol's political leverage reached across the continent just in time to have brokered a deal as the war had started to wind down.Conspiracy theorists seem to agree—but not on any certain terms, or even in any sort of specifics—that a number of Washington politicos and officials from the UN, had a hand (indirect or otherwise) in offering Karadzic a arrangement while striking the accords that ended the region's three-and-a-half year long armed conflict. Sightings of the man were reported in this new decade, but a low-key diplomatic presence and an anemic political imperative to carry out a manhunt had given an undue sense of transition without closure to the majority of Serbs, like an untreated wound left to be merely covered.It's that very idea that war criminals, dangerous fugitives and wanted men could conceivably be left to their own devious devices in the age when any schlep with Google has the ability to just about zoom into your sidewalk that starts to give one pause. All while governments put on a tough enough face on our morning news, juxtaposed with grieving civilians and scrolling counters of increasing death counts as countless pundits debate incessantly on political ambiguities tinged with just the right condescension of dispassionate moralism. Presciently enough, writer and director Richard Shepard sees this disconnect between the past and present, these remnants of the past shrouded by certain secrecy.Where could these men—faces forever etched in the minds of survivors—be hiding in a world increasingly smaller? Jumping off from an article by Scott Anderson in the Esquire from 2000 about a cadre of war journalists that went on the search for Karadzic, got confused for CIA operatives and found themselves in a whole heap of trouble. This target seems primed for maximum satirical prospects but Shepard takes his latest film, "The Hunting Party", nowhere in particular. Taking on the media and its tendency for ADD-style reporting, the American military, international politics, post-war Bosnia and the West's own ability to tune out injustices that aren't necessarily relatable to them, Shepard touches on just about enough intentions to ensure relevant but mediocre war commentary. Somewhere along the way to satire, it all just drops off into glib exploitation of war crimes.Coming off as misguidedly preening, Shepard just never seems ready or even capable of deriving a black comedy from atrocities by always talking and skirting around the issue. Just as in his breakthrough feature, "The Matador", he uses the same comedic buddy movie formula to give two midlifers one last jaunt through danger. Simon Hunt (Richard Gere) is a wreck, but no hack. He's the cliché of a movie journalist—dogged, misanthropic, unsuccessful and usually right when nobody else seems to think so. Boozing around active war zones around the world and selling them on the cheap to any news agencies around the world, Hunt has been subsisting ever since an on-air meltdown in Bosnia in the mid-90s that got him thrown off his network. His former cameraman, Duck (an interminably wasted Terrence Howard as narrator) is now a network hotshot, with a cushy studio job. On a superficial assignment in Bosnia to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the end of the war, he runs into Hunt, seemingly on a personal vendetta to bring in The Fox (Ljubomir Kerekes), a mastermind behind the Balkan genocide that claimed Hunt's would-be soulmate and Radovan Karadzic archetype. Thrown into the mix is the network vice-president's eager beaver son (Jesse Eisenberg), tagging along for that real world experience because according to Hunt, you just can't "believe all you learn in journalism school".Post-war Bosnia is quite obviously inherently dark, unfriendly place for them. Even more unfriendly when the questions they ask and the information they seek stirs up memories and resentment among the folks living in the outskirts of the region where The Fox is allegedly being protected. Shepard, to his credit, crafts scenes that work on a purely comedic level, devoid of social context but with character interactions, mostly from the good work done by Gere who underplays his movie-star good looks with grizzled jadedness to the world and his profession. But Shepard takes things too far by tacking on Bosnians as nothing more than carnival sideshows and angry militants out for more blood, until a frantically tone-deaf build-up to suspense and action. It's just much too self-satisfied in how absurd it all is.