Simply A Masterpiece

Good movie but grossly overrated

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

If you do the math, and you think of the time of this movie, 1990-1994 during the height of apartheid, which was FINALLY making the news, and the age of these courageous photographers recording history, and what I was doing at that age I'm embarrassed by myself. That part of the world was foreign to me. I was the same age as these men, but not a care in the world.The movie can be joyous, at times. But there's really nothing joyous about that era. And I think this movie speaks the truth. There were things that I didn't know about; the various parties that were against each other, trying to get to a free and fair election. The level of violence. The ineffectiveness of any kind of law-enforcement. Local newspapers afraid or an able to post photos of the truth, being afraid of seeming to choose a side. And these photojournalists, played amazingly by the actors who portrayed them, were real people. This is not fiction.While I was in a new job, new relationship, and buying a house. These people were literally dying for pennies. My hats off. And if I could get this movie more than 10 start, I would. It should be a history lesson.

I avoided this film for a long time because it was set in South Africa and I thought it was going to be political. Instead it is more about the combat photographers that live and work in these zones, witnesses to all kinds of nasty things, but tasked with observing and taking pictures only.The film has a good cast, but considering it is based on a book written by two of the photographers - one played by Ryan Phillippe, it is strange that the most visible character is Taylor Kitsch's, who steals the show with his acting.The direction and writing of the film were a little bland, though, less ambitious than the subject of the movie. I wonder if it was intentional, as to show more of the perspective of the original book. Even so, we start with these musketeers of the camera, but we never understand why they got to doing what they're doing and so most of the time we couldn't care less what happens to them.The change comes at the end, when two of the group die and we are faced with the pain of their friends and loved ones, but it comes too late and on the background of Black people finding their children murdered and having to let photographers in to take account. It felt artificial and condescending, so that is why I rated this film merely average. Otherwise, an interesting story and word watching.One thing intrigued me: from the few IMDb comments for this film, there is none from South Africa, so they must have done something wrong with the movie.

I'm afraid I had this in my shelf for 2 years before I saw it, and that us a travesty in it's self. This is the best photographer-film I ever saw, and it's even a true story. Journalism is of the most dangerous jobs in the world, and photographers have to be even closer to the horrific events which occur around in the world. They are obliged to refer and make proof of what's happening.Directed by the South African Steven Silver, this Canadian/South African film is based in a book, "The bang-bang club", a true story about four journalists working in South Africa, photographing civilian war there, during Apartheid. It's a film which tells a story, gives out the dilemmas, and moral issues in a well played movie. Biggest star, Ryan Phillippe, does once again a great main role. He has no problems carrying this on his shoulders.This film deserves a bigger audience than it's had. Casting Ryan Phillippe is a smart thing her, giving the film some of it's international audience. And I hope it'll continue. Because this is a very good a realistically told movie. Way better than a Hollywood production would have told it, though I would have been seen of tenfolds more.As a teacher in media, I would recommend this as a fine media film. Not only about photographing and journalism in dangerous situations around the world, but also as a film showing the dilemma, moral questions involved as well as a good told filmed story. It basically tells that this kind of journalism and photographing is not for everyone.Photo technically th film learns you some, but it tells more about editing and the media's use of photographers and pictures, even when they don't dare to tell the truth, and when they compete, and try to take credit, even when they where too afraid to use the material early on. Also the very difficult dilemma if a journalist should interfere in a situation or not when able to do so.The film overall works well. It loses a little tension from time to time, seen as a thriller, but then it is a drama. Maybe a tiny little too much focus on a love story, but for some this will add to the story what they need to enjoy the film fully. It's sometime brutal, but it tells the truth. Brutally honest.Th rating here on IMDb is too low. In my opinion this should have has a rating of 7,2-7,5 compared to other films in this landscape. I, go myself, think it's a clear 8/10. Recommended!

That movie really takes me out of rails whenever watching it. It makes me thinking how controversial the world is and ... When there are so many examples in wild nature for injustice and loosing life in order to gain balance, why is it so hardly difficult for people to accept the social conflicts and death? P.S. The performance of Taylor Kitsch is more than brilliant.. He made me wanting to read the book and take my personal imagination of what the real personality of Kevin Carter has been! Special thanks to the directors - Thank you for making film of that rank, i mean "think & feel", not just "pay & watch".