50 Dead Men Walking

By Magdaleen Duvenage

Viewing at: Ster Kinekor
Release Date: Released

Directed By Kari Skogland.
Screenplay By Nicholas Davies, Martin McGartland and Kari Skogland.
Executive Producers: Donald J. Lee Jr., Scott Rudin & Dana Stevens.
Produced By Stephen Hegyes, Peter La Terriere, Kari Skogland, Shawn Williamson.
Cast:
Jim Strugess, Ben Kingsley, Kevin Zegers & Natalie Press. Genre: Action Classification: VLS 13 Running Time: 117 Minutes

As a rule of thumb, I don't see action movies cause I find them crude and upsetting. I mean all action movies... What I like about them is the small pieces of romance and the tense passion, they always seem to have. Themes are basically always the same, there are always someone who dies (a few people actually), lots of blood and loud shooting. I am just not fond of it... The other part of the truth is, I had to focus with this one, and seeing as though my knowledge of army, wars and politics are extremely limited – I had to up my game, but this, however, I do know: The town we visiting is Belfast in Ireland, 1988. The British and Irish are in war and the British is occupying the the streets. They want Northern Ireland as part of the UK. The IRA isn't letting that happen – therefore the fight. Martin McGartland is a second-hand sales man, selling women's under garments, shoes, etc. He is politically in the mid stream, not caring much for either side. When the IRA breaks his friend's legs, he sides with the British police. He is recruited by Fergus (Ben Kingsley) a Special Branch officer to become a double agent. Both the IRA and the British Police, is positive about who he is... In modern day movies, one knows that a “informer” is someone that is basically already dead. He will be discovered, the story told is therefore, how he dies. So at this stage in the story one knows that McGartland is already dead, you actually know that from the opening scene. McGartland help saved the lives of at least 50 Men, that we know of. A very odd situation is that the IRA see no comparison between the assassinations and McGartland's share; I am sure, by now they have gotten better with it...

Towards the end of the movie there is a situation were his identity and who he works for, is revealed. By then, he is to far in to get out and he realizes that they basically own his life, however long that lasts. He will always be in hiding and he will always run.

The political situation of the time was quite tricky, the movie never really explains McGartland's view or standpoint. I am also not sure I understand the political situation correctly, cause it is explained quite vaguely. The only fact I do understand about this movie, quite clearly as well, is that McGartland did survive. His relationship with Fergus helps him in his position in the IRA and he climbs the ladder of trust and success. The two men become co-dependant on one another, and I sense that McGartland sees Fergus as a father figure. Through the telling, one realizes that Fergus gave up just as much to have this position in the British police, and I would like to call it a longing for a son. Towards the end, Fergus also puts his life on the line to safe McGartland. One, once again realizes, just how cold and hard these men are, when they have gotten what they wanted, they would easily dispose of someone like a garbage bag. The IRA still has him marked as dead and even with him saying the story was “inspired by” the book, would still not in any way help him. There was an attempt on his life 10 years after he fled in Canada and he is still out there – SOME WHERE... This is really Hollywood stuff, in my wildest dream, I never thought something like this is possible of happening in the world.

When one views this story from out side, the question remains: Where is morality in all this? How does one decide whom should live? We in South Africa, especially the younger generation have no idea of what really happens in a war, we don't know the capacity of a war in a country and the implication on a human life when one talks about war... That is why a story like this seems like some sort of fairy tale, I don't think my mind comprehends the capacity of a guy still in hiding in 2009 (not because he is a criminal but because he stood up for the truth)... Everything you are taught is shaken, the very people that are suppose to protect and serve their own, has marked this man as dead. The real question is where will all of this end? What does he still need to loose? How does one find a balance between heroism and moral capability?

He can literally be dead any second... What meaning would his life have had? He already lost it, then what did he gain? A struggle to stay alive very rarely equals the quality of all that is dear to living; I believe that the equity is vied.

There are scenes of implicated sex, brutal and unsettling violence and gruesome scenes of torture, gun violence and horrible fist fights. The violence is extremely realistic and awful to watch – just watching it, is torture. A lot of swearing goes on, you almost feel offended from time to time. The film is extremely intense, from the beginning to the very end. Parents be VERY strongly cautioned, I don't even recommend under 18's to watch this, I just don't think with the crime and violence in our own country that this is a up-lifting movie to see, especially with the president trying to minimize gun violence. This movie will definitely leave you wondering. For me to grasp a life lived like that, is just to unreal to be true. The acting was done brilliantly. The director, yes you better believe it, was done by none other than Kari Skogland! This woman is full of surprises! She had such a good balance in the movie, I am always scared when a woman directs a movie like this, scared of getting a version viewpoint that I am already familiar with, but she did a brilliant job! To everyone: Well done! For my personal taste, I would not buy the DVD – just because of all the gruesome scenes, violence and swearing. It is however, a wake-up call that these things are true and they do exist. As a woman, my heart naturally goes out to McGartland's mother and Lara, and I wonder what they must be feeling knowing that he is still alive and he chose not to put them through the ordeal of his choices. I wonder what they would want? What is your comments on the subject? I am giving it a very violent 6/10. See you at the movies!