Black Hawk Down
An expert givesRidley Scott ’s $ 173 million warfare picture a virtually utter score for accuracy . The British director and producer has a reputation for make visually stunning and historically rich film based on a smorgasbord of eras and iconic figures . Throughout his vocation , Scott has tappedinto different place and time in history , fetch forththought - arouse masterpieces based on truthful stories . However , he has also run into issues when it comes to accuracy .
For instance , the director’s2021 medieval dramaThe Last Duel , asterisk Jodie Comer , Adam Driver , Matt Damon , and others , is set in fourteenth - C France . ground on Eric Jager ’s Word of God of the same name , the motion-picture show explore one of the last duel fought in France involving a fair sex ’s report and the fate of three hoi polloi . Similarly , Scott draw inspiration from substantial lifewhen conjuring his 2000 Oscar - winning epicGladiator , set in ancient Rome , though the fictitious main plot and fantastic elements draw criticism from historians .
Ridley Scott’s War Movie Black Hawk Down Is Mostly Historically Accurate
Black Hawk Down Received A 9/10 Rating From A War Expert
Based on journalist Mark Bowden ’s book of account , Scott ’s 2001 war movieBlack Hawk Downtells the story of 160 elite U.S. soldier who were dropped into Mogadishu in 1993 by Black Hawk helicopters on a military mission to destabilise the Somali government and bring economic aid to the lust population . Scott took the testimonial of many surviving soldiers and weaved their story into his grownup - cover adaptation . In 2002 , it was nominated for four Academy Awards and was the winner in two categories .
Netflix documentary last Black Hawk Down enjoin the rightful report behind Ridley Scott ’s 2001 movie , providing raw perspectives on the event .
Now , former U.S. Army Special Forces and Delta Force operator Bob Keller has ratedBlack Hawk Downfor naturalism in anInsidervideo . Keller break down several scenes in the picture show , explaining in detail that almost every operation and explosion was " legit " and realistic , giving the motion-picture show a " solid nine " out of 10 for truth . The only thing that struck him as rummy was that , in real lifespan , they would employ the terminal figure " Xfill " for " extraction . " discipline out his gossip below :
Pretty much legit , Black Hawk Down , and it was actually depicting an actual mission that went down in Mogadishu . They ’re going in to actually grab HVI , which is a highly worthful case-by-case unit , that ’s what we do . For the unit , I would say if people do n’t know what it is , it ’s the next step up . You want more . You want more assaults , and you require to be better at hostage rescues , that ’s where you go .
work together ? dead , we would use the forest fire fighter battalions or forest fire fighter multitude when we went into raw deputation for like our bar positions . Do we do that all the metre ? It ’s very rarely that there ’s a mission that adult that we would use the ranger battalion with us , butit has happened . Yeah , and it happened . The 160 pilot program and their eggbeater . That ’s something that we only use these guy rope , so that ’s 100 % legit in this shot .
The only thing that caught my auricle , they call , like " extraction . " We say , " Xfill , " butI judge if you ’re extracting someone , it would make sensewith RPG coming up on your side , so 100 % possible .
What This Means For Black Hawk Down
Ridley Scott Didn’t Take Black Hawk Down’s Story Lightly
Scott ’s war epic – which stars Josh Hartnett , Ewan McGregor , Eric Bana , Jason Isaacs , Tom Hardy , Orlando Bloom , and Nikolaj Coster - Waldau , among many others – has been praise by military experts before for its realistic line drawing of the battle . While it ’s known for its accuracy in telling what run low down from the American soldiers ' perspective , the film is oftencriticized for not providing enough setting about the war . However , it did n’t stop Scott from pursuing his mania for historical dramas .
Scott ’s other historical dramas includeThe Duellists(1977),1492 : Conquest of Paradise(1992 ) , andKingdom of Heaven(2005 ) .
Black Hawk Downholds a particular blank space in Scott ’s filmography , even though the film director did n’t go home with a Best Director win for the feature . In 2025 , the music director ’s production company , Ridley Scott Associates , revisit the battle of Mogadishu through a three - partdocumentary titledSurviving Black Hawk Downthat reach voice to the soldier and the Somalian mass to search what actually happened . The realism Scott achieved in his Oscar winner was n’t by chance event . It ’s substantiation of his investment and commitment to the survivors .
How Ridley Scott Made Black Hawk Down So Accurate
The Actors Went Through Extensive Preparation
First and foremost , Ridley Scott ’s filmfeatures a high degree of accuracy because of its source material , the 1999 non - fiction bookBlack Hawk Downby journalist Mark Bowden , which was conform to the screen by Ken Nolan . For the book , Bowden channel exhaustive inquiry into U.S. Army record , interviewed individuals from both sides of the fight , see footage from observation aircraft , and listen to radio transmission recording . A substantial fate of the details regarding Delta Force operations for the record book came from genuine Delta Force member Paul R. Howe , who inspired William Fichtner ’s character , SFC Jeff Sanderson , in the photographic film .
Many of the actors formed strong connection with the soldiers who trained them and matt-up a bass horse sense of responsibility to impersonate their stories accurately .
TheBlack Hawk Downcastalso went through extensive preparation to portray their use . To enhance military pragmatism , the actors limn Rangers participated in a one - week familiarisation course at Fort Benning , while those playing Delta Force members underwent a two - workweek ranger course with the first Special Warfare Training Group at Fort Bragg . Ron Eldard and the other actors present 160th SOAR whirlybird cowcatcher get briefing from captured aviator Michael Durant at Fort Campbell . The U.S. Army also provided the equipment and helicopters for the picture show from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment .
Key Facts About Black Hawk Down
Release Date
January 18 , 2002
Runtime
2h 24 MB
Budget
$ 92 million
Box Office
$ 173 million
RT Critics Score
76 %
RT Audience Score
88 %
Many of the thespian form warm association with the soldiers who trained them and felt a deep sense of duty to portray their history accurately , partly out of respect for the gentleman’s gentleman who lost their lives in the Mogadishu firefight . This committedness to legitimacy is speculate in the film ’s immersive Platonism , which has resonated with both military personnel and audiences likewise . Ridley Scott and his hurl ’s dedication to telling the narration truthfully has allowedBlack Hawk Downto endure as one of the most accurate and respectful portrayal of New war in movie house .
germ : Insider
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Black Hawk Down recounts the harrowing true story of a U.S. military mission gone awry in Somalia . Tasked with capturing a warlord , elect soldiers find themselves in a boisterous battle against Somalian reserves forces .
