Sahara
Review by Tim Basham
Warning: The film Sahara is not a true story. There
wasn’t really a Civil War battleship that vanished and
reappeared in an African desert 150 years later.
A heroic, risk-taking treasure hunter did not meet a serious,
but beautiful, scientist who was investigating a strange plague—coincidentally
near the supposed site of the missing battleship.
But, to truly enjoy the film you’ll just have to temporarily
suspend reality and accept the miraculous escapes and improbable
chase scenes.
Sarcasm aside, much of the criticism of this action-adventure
starring Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz has been for
its unbelievable storyline and far fetched stunts.
So, just out of curiosity, what were we all thinking when
we last watched Star Wars — that it was not only
perfectly acceptable that Darth Vader was Luke’s father,
but also that it happened in a galaxy far, far away with fish-head
aliens and seven-foot wookies?
McConaughey portrays Dirk Pitt with the reckless daring of
an Indiana Jones, the military fighting skills of a Rambo,
and the hometown charm of Paul Newman. Dirk convinces his
boss, retired Admiral Sandecker (William H. Macy), to loan
out his boat so Dirk and his lifelong buddy Al Giordino (Steve
Zahn) can make a search for the lost battleship up an African
river. But they must first drop off the lovely scientist Eva
Rojas (Cruz) as she continues her study of the mysterious
disease.
Inevitably, they meet again as they discover a link between
the plague, an evil industrialist (isn’t there always
an evil industrialist?) and a corrupt African warlord. Along
the way are camel rides, cannon battles and a very unique
windsurfing scene across the desert.
Zahn, as the sidekick, is a perfect match for McConaughey
and the friendship between the two is obvious and credible.
There’s even a side-sidekick with Delroy Lindo as Carl
the techno geek. The three amigos’ misadventure with
the admiral’s boat is a definite boatful of exhilarating
fun. And although Macy’s scenes are brief, he makes the
most of them.
The PG-13 rating allowed me to take the whole family to Sahara,
which is rare nowadays. So, go. Enjoy. And leave your reality
at the box office window.
4 out of 5
Sahara
Australian release: Thursday 7th of April, 2005
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Penélope Cruz, Steve
Zahn, William H. Macy, Delroy Lindo.
Director: Breck Eisner.
Website: Click
here.
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