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SYNOPSIS:
From the director of Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger
comes Catch A Fire, a journey of sabotage, corruption and
murder in Apartheid era South Africa. Academy Award winner
Tim Robbins and Derek Luke star in this gripping thriller
based on a true story. Set against a country in flames and
two cultures at war. Catch A Fire is the searing story of
a lone man driven to stand up and fight for himself, his family
and his people.
MOVIE
REVIEW
There
is something about political thrillers like this one that
gets us all fired up and righteous about human rights, especially
when issues like political, economic, or social discrimination
are eminent. While the powerful images on screen make for
powerful political statements, the underlying messages of
movies like that demand deeper levels of understanding.
In
what this reviewer terms as the “Angry Black Man”
scenario, Derek Luke (Antwone Fisher, Glory Road) plays a
real-life character Patrick Chamusso, who carries out attacks
against the regime in South Africa’s troubled times
during the 1980s. The poor man was an unassuming apolitical
football coach until the system causes him and his wife to
be jailed.
What’s
the limit one can be pushed to, you wonder?
Director
Philip Noyce is no stranger to politically-charged movies
like this, considering his previous works Clear and Present
Danger (1994) and The Quiet American (2002). With this latest
work which missed its theatrical run in Singapore, Noyce takes
on potentially touchy themes with the right amount of commentary
and action-packed sequences.
The
101-minute movie has its fair share of exotically-filmed scenes
in South Africa, as well as adrenalin-filled captivity sequences
that will keep you at the edge of your seats. The movie may
play out like a typical action thriller, but the performances
of the main leads will draw you in as well.
Other
than Luke’s emotionally-charged portrayal of the “Angry
Black Man”, Tim Robbins’ distinctive performance
will have you feeling for his policeman character too. The
two men play an energetic game of police and thief which engages
on an intellectual level.
Before
the credits roll and you see the real Patrick Chamusso talking
about forgiveness and redemption, there will a sense of righteousness
that will make you see the unfair world in a different light.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
This Code 3 DVD contains an audio commentary track
by the film’s director, producer, screenwriter, actors
and also the real-life Patrick Chammuso. Kudos to the DVD
producers who managed to get everyone together to talk about
the film – in an orderly manner! Also, there are four
brief deleted scenes which further showcases Robbins’
subtle but powerful performance.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The disc’s visual transfer is clear enough to have you
feel the angst and anguish of the characters, thanks to the,
pardon the pun, fires and flames caught on screen. Also, there
are several audio language tracks for viewers in the region
on this Code 3 DVD.
MOVIE RATING:
 
DVD
RATING :
Review
by John Li
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