| Heres one of the most surprisingly good films Ive ever seen on IFC. Normally the Independent Film Channel has a penchant for showing unusual or obscure films that arent really independent in the true sensethis film happens to be one of them. The Dogs of War (released by United Artists) is a 1980 war film based upon the novel of the same namer by Frederick Forsyth, directed by John Irvin. It stars Christopher Walken and Tom Berenger as part of a small, international unit of mercenary soldiers privately hired to depose President Kimba of a fictional "Republic of Zangaro", in Africa, so that a British tycoon can gain mining access to a huge platinum deposit. This movie was filmed on location in Belize. The Dogs of War title is a phrase from William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar (1599), which uses the line Cry, 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war (line 270, scene 1, Act III). Christopher Walken had just come off of the great success of The Deer Hunter in 1978, and he delivers a wonder performance in this film, playing the main mercenary that scouts out and eventually pulls together a team to go into this fictitious country to help overthrow one govt. to install another one. Tom Berenger is also equally as good, in one of his earlier rolls. Youll also notice that several of the mercenary supporting cast just happen to be important stars in another great action film of the 1980s (and probably of all time).Raiders of the Lost Ark. In this film, youll see Paul Freeman as Dr ... |
