Tears of the Sun

Tears of the Sun arrives as an action film directed by Antoine Fuqua, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Bruce Willis and Cole Hauser give Tears of the Sun a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Tears of the Sun comes into focus without a long explanation: A Special Ops commander leads his team into the Nigerian jungle in order to rescue a doctor who will only join them if they agree to save 70 refugees too. Across its 2h 1m running time, Antoine Fuqua keeps Tears of the Sun alive in individual scenes and uncertain between them.

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The narrative of Tears of the Sun works from a simple but productive collision between Special Ops and Nigerian. Through Bruce Willis, Tears of the Sun keeps that premise rooted in a reaction the audience can understand. Alex Lasker introduces the central character at a useful point, giving Tears of the Sun a reason to change pace without abandoning its emotional line. The handling of an important relationship is not equally fresh, yet Tears of the Sun usually earns attention through clarity rather than surprise alone.

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As director of Tears of the Sun, Antoine Fuqua proves alive in individual scenes and uncertain between them in the transitions between intimate material and larger demands. A strong scene in Tears of the Sun often begins with a modest detail before Antoine Fuqua lets its meaning expand. For Tears of the Sun, the cast and craft keep the experience watchable because the central tone remains visible even during busy passages. The weakness in Tears of the Sun is that too many scenes explain effects the actors have already suggested, although Antoine Fuqua usually finds the original rhythm again.

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Performance is the clearest human asset in Tears of the Sun, beginning with the committed centre provided by Bruce Willis. Cole Hauser keeps Tears of the Sun from settling into one emotional register by approaching the material from another angle. The presence of Monica Bellucci gives the surrounding world of Tears of the Sun additional texture without distracting from the main line. When Antoine Fuqua holds on a reaction, Tears of the Sun communicates more efficiently than another explanatory exchange could manage.

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Tears of the Sun uses its action film framework to consider responsibility under pressure and the cost of impulsive courage. For the character played by Bruce Willis, that idea gives Tears of the Sun stakes beyond the next immediate obstacle. The recurring pressure of Nigerian prevents the theme in Tears of the Sun from feeling like decoration added after the story. Antoine Fuqua makes Tears of the Sun more thoughtful whenever the implications remain inside action and reaction.

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Tears of the Sun gains much of its identity from set pieces with a clear sense of place, a choice that makes the world readable as well as attractive. The contribution of Cheyenne Enterprises allows Tears of the Sun to combine set pieces with a clear sense of place with a consistent visual language. Within its United States setting, Tears of the Sun makes particularly good use of physical momentum when the story needs to change scale. Sound and editing preserve the personality of Tears of the Sun by supporting detail instead of announcing every intended response.

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The lasting judgement on Tears of the Sun is an uneven film with enough personality to remain interesting for action fans who want spectacle tied to recognisable stakes. Tears of the Sun earns that response through the focus of Bruce Willis, the contribution of set pieces with a clear sense of place and the direction of Antoine Fuqua. It remains true that too many scenes explain effects the actors have already suggested during Tears of the Sun, which keeps enthusiasm measured. Still, Tears of the Sun understands the experience it wants to create and communicates that intention with recognisable personality.