It’s not difficult to find plenty of instances in which Hollywood dismally botches up firearms handling and portrayal, as well as storylines. As gun enthusiasts and sticklers for detail, we routinely cringe to the extent that, when we see them actually do something correctly, we blurt out a compliment. These can be few and far between.
So how about it? Do they ever get it right? We’re going to point out a couple of the better productions here. You may have seen the same movies that we’ll talk about and agree. Or, if you haven’t yet seen these examples, they can be placed on the list that you may want to check out.
I’m not going to be reviewing the latest, greatest releases here, so it’s quite possible that you will have already seen the film work that I’m about to talk about. These movies have been out for quite a while, and I consider them to be timeless classics.
Get the popcorn, because we’re going to the movies!
Heat
This 1995 film features an all-star lineup, including Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Ashley Judd, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, and others. I’ll oversimplify it by summing it up thusly: It’s a cat-and-mouse film about cops and robbers. Now that I’ve said that, it’s so much more. The plot is intricately woven, the acting so well done, and the preparation for the film (really, the cherry on top of the sundae) combine to make this into what I believe is the best cops-and-robbers modern film of all time. Human elements and brutality are mixed together so eloquently that it’s nigh on perfection.
How obsessive was Director Michael Mann about preparation for this movie? For nine months leading up to “Heat,” he went out with the LAPD every Friday and Saturday night in ride-alongs so that he could get a firm grasp on the job. Full stop. Right there, the man has my respect. For a director in Hollywood, that is above and beyond. That says, “I want to get this right.” As an aside, Mann had also spent time in Folsom Prison while researching another movie, so that experience only added to “Heat.”
Former SAS operator, Andy McNabb (author of “Bravo Two Zero”) was brought in to train the actors using real weapons and live fire on shooting ranges. This is probably what most contributed to the realism of the famous bank shootout in the film, as well as overall weapons handling.
“Heat” is about a tight-knit band of criminals (led by DeNiro) who conduct a series of heists, which attract the attention of a tight-knit crew of Law enforcement officers (led by Pacino). The movie is actually based on a real story, which adds appreciably to the plot.
While there is some Hollywood license taken in the production, there is also a lot that is shockingly realistic. Among the realism is the gun handling.
All shooting (both of film and with firearms) was done on location in Chicago. An interesting note is that the biggest firefight of the movie, lasting several minutes, was filmed over the course of a few weekends (less disruption to the area’s traffic) in downtown Chicago. Initially, it was planned that the gunshots and other sounds would be dubbed in after filming. However, when producers heard how the gunshots echoed off the buildings and how it sounded overall, they decided to go with the actual sounds of gunfire. The gunfire echoed off the buildings for several seconds after the firing stopped and really gave a neat contribution to the movie effects. It truly does sound as though the viewer is in the action.
Though it doesn’t relate to gunplay, the fact that the movie goes into the characters’ personal lives, their quirks and faults, as well as their strengths, is a nice bonus. Pacino’s character, who is so obsessed with capturing his prey that it ruins his marriages, is a believable portrayal of a dedicated detective. The job is his life, and as he mentions, “I don’t know how to do anything else.” He follows it up with, “I don’t much want to, either.” DeNiro’s character agrees with him. The two mutually respect each other. I can relate to that, because that’s how I viewed myself in relation to my career—except that I prioritized my marriage. And there were a number of instances in which the bad guys and I viewed each other with respect, and this movie reminds me a lot of that.
A nice balance was reached in bringing the characters’ families into the movie to give them personal depth. At the same time, they didn’t turn it into a soap opera. This added richness without ruining things.
Pacino (as Vincent Hanna) and DeNiro (as Neil McCauley) have a conversation in a restaurant, meeting on neutral ground as rivals. Pacino knows what DeNiro is doing and who he is. The conversation resonated with me because, in my law enforcement career, I’ve actually had similar conversations with some high-level criminals. It was enough to bring back some intense memories. That conversation between cop and robber did actually happen, by the way, in real life and nearly verbatim to the movie script.
Through the movie, viewers often find themselves rooting for both the police and the bad guys. Both sides are, to an extent, likable. We can identify with them.
The famous firefight after their final bank heist begins when Kilmer’s character sees the police across the street and he immediately opens fire on full auto. The action unfolds quickly after it is initiated.
The characters move as a coordinated team while firing at a large number of responding police units. DeNiro and Kilmer stick together and their weapons handling is outstanding (especially for actors). They move convincingly and with purpose; they’re not dawdling around just shooting at whatever moves, but covering each other as they advance to get out of the kill zone.
Kilmer executes a great magazine change that’s fast and smooth. They also communicate verbally with each other in a convincing fashion. All told, this is one of the best firefights I’ve ever seen in movie history. And I don’t give out praise like that easily.
Pacino wields a Belgian FNC rifle convincingly during this huge shootout. The robbers are armed with short-barreled M-16 carbines. Other members of the law enforcement team have either shotguns or AR-15s, along with standard pistols. One realistic detail is that the police are firing semi-auto, aiming their shots carefully so as not to hit friendlies. The felons are firing full auto, not caring whom they hit, to pin down the authorities.
If you haven’t seen “Heat,” it’s time for you to check it out. If you have seen it…you should probably watch it again.
Act Of Valor
This movie involves a meandering plot, including terrorists who murder children and want to bring jihad to the United States. It involves a SEAL team rescue of a kidnapped female CIA agent. The SEALs pursue terrorists around the globe, eliminating many of them as the movie progresses. It culminates in Mexico where the terrorists are infiltrating the United States through tunnels from Mexico.
There is some coverage of the SEALs as they and their families spend time together. It gives the viewer an insight that they are solid family men.
One of the unique aspects of this movie is that several of the characters were active-duty SEALs at the time of filming. While some Hollywood license was used, there were some very realistic gun-handling scenes, especially in CQB (Close-quarters combat) situations. That’s really what made this movie.
Personally, my favorite scene is where they infiltrated a terrorist camp and secured the female CIA officer. Upon their exfiltration, they are discovered and the chase is on.
The SEALs commandeer a pickup truck and are being chased by an enemy QRF. While they’re on the run, the SEAL commander is communicating with their exfiltration unit (two SWCC boats). The boats and the Special Warfare Combat Crewmen (SWCC) truly made this sequence spectacular.
The running (or rather, driving) gun battle was excellent, with some expertly performed reloads. The SEALs advised the SWCC guys that it would be a hot extract. They had to switch from their primary extract to their secondary extract, and then finally to their tertiary extract as their options ran out.
The SEALs arrived at the river, which they drove straight into at full speed. At that moment, the SWCC boats turn the corner in the river and just light the entire guerilla force up with miniguns and every automatic weapon on the boats. The best part is, it was live fire! They actually filmed it with live ammunition, so the tracers were real. The fact that the people involved in the scene were actual operators really put the icing on the cake with this one.
That sequence lasted several minutes and kept viewers on the edge of their seats. I sometimes pull up that scene online and watch it because it was just so well done!
In another scene, one of the SEALs throws himself on a grenade to save his teammates. It’s well done and tugs at the heartstrings, especially at the funeral.
Weapons used in this film were extremely varied. Included were AK-47s, M4s, miniguns, rocket launchers, M240s, IEDs, and others.
Overall, this was a very well-done movie with some real operators that added the successful element to it.
Blackhawk Down
This movie is based on the 1993 incident involving US Army Rangers, Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta (SFOD-D, or just “Delta”), Air Force Combat Controllers, Navy SEALs, and others. It centers on a raid intended to apprehend high-level terrorists who are connected to Mohamed Farrah Aidid in Mogadishu.
The cast included Tom Sizemore, Josh Hartnett, and Ewan McGregor, among others.
The actors all underwent a training course (the Rangers and Delta were trained separately) by real operators. Harry Humphries (former Navy SEAL and trainer) was also involved in training and as a technical advisor. In addition, there were Rangers and other operators involved as extras in the movie and on set, which added more to the realism. The fast roping scenes were performed by real Rangers.
As the operation unfolds, it begins to come apart as a Blackhawk helicopter is shot down. A rescue operation is launched to secure the crash site during which time another Blackhawk is shot down. By now, the operation becomes bogged down and the entire force finds themselves fighting for their lives.
Delta and the Rangers work together to secure crash sites and move through the city. The tactics, overall, are pretty decent. The gun handling is believable and well done.
I especially enjoyed the scenes where Delta handled their weapons because they really did it well. They moved with confidence, much like actual operators would have.
If you’re into extended violence and battle scenes, then this movie is for you. A large portion of it is the battle, which stretched over two days. The scenes are well done and about as realistic as we’re going to see in any Hollywood production. I read Mark Bowden’s book, “Blackhawk Down,” as well as a few others, and quite a few of the scenes and dialogue match what the veterans who were there have written. The movie doesn’t adhere perfectly to the written accounts, but it does a decent job of it.
The military provided the helicopters and some other equipment, as well as some of the training, which really went a long way in making this movie good. Overall, it was excellent.
Weapons involved range from Miniguns and rockets on the Little Bird choppers, various M-16s including full-sized A2s and several carbine versions, M-60 machineguns, M249 SAWs, the M2 .50 caliber HGM, H&K MP5s, the 1911, Beretta 92, M72 LAW, M67 fragmentation grenades, AN/M14 Incendiary grenades, and an M14 (used by a Delta sniper).
On the Somali side, they used many RPG-7s, AK-47s, AK-74s, G3s, Russian DShK HMGs, M2 HMG, PKM machineguns, and an SPG9 Recoilless Rifle. All in all, it’s a smorgasbord of weaponry, especially on the Somali side.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it. I got rather carried away in my reviews here, which is why I cut the article short where I did. I’m quite certain there are other productions out there that are realistically done. How about you, what are your favorites? Share them with us in the comments so we can check them out!
