February 27, 2002 -- "Hart's War" is a traditional kind of prisoner of war story along the lines of "The Great Escape" and "Stalag 17," but of course, not as good as those classics. In addition to the usual tension and hardship in a POW camp, there is also a court martial to contend with in this film.

Colin Farrell of "Tigerland" stars as a young officer, Lt. Thomas W. Hart, with only two years of law school, selected to defend a black officer, Lt. Lincoln A. Scott (played by Terrence Dashon Howard), against a murder charge. The commander of the camp, Col. Werner Visser (played by Marcel Iures), decides to allow the court martial to proceed because he thinks it might be amusing. Visser, having gone to college in the U.S., has a keen insight into American society, including its pervasive racism.

Hart soon finds out there is a lot more going on than a simple murder. He runs up against opposition from Col. William A. McNamara, the ranking officer among the POWs. McNamara says Hart must clear all testimony through him because of security concerns. McNamara also presides over the court-martial, and he appoints an experienced lawyer to conduct the prosecution, stacking the odds in favor of a conviction. Is McNamara a racist, or does he have some hidden agenda? Some evidence against Scott also seems manufactured. Hart knows one of the prosecution witnesses is lying.

The murder happens after Scott's friend, fellow Tuskegee Airman Lt. Lamar T. Archer (Vicellous Reon Shannon) is killed by the Germans because of evidence planted by a racist soldier. Scott vows vengeance against the soldier who planted the evidence. Hart finds an unusual ally in his case in the German commander of the camp, who finds it amusing to dabble in the case by helping Hart with his defense. Col. Werner Visser is a complex character, capable simultaneously of both brutality and insight into his captives. His opponent, Col. McNamara is also a complex character. He wants to be on the outside, fighting the war, instead of cooped up in a prison. His motives and actions are not clear. Hart also wanted to get into the war, but his father's political connections kept him behind the lines until he was captured by the Germans (reminds me of the old adage "be careful what you wish for"). He tries to earn the respect of his men, but finds himself on slippery ground.

Director Gregory Hoblit ("Frequency") does a good job advancing the story. The screenplay by Billy Ray and Terry George, based on the novel by John Katzenbach, is solid. There are even some action sequences to liven things up. Katzenbach based his book on some of his father's experiences as a POW during World War II. His father, Nicholas Katzenbach, served as Attorney General of the United States during the administration of Lyndon Johnson. A strong cast, headed by Farrell, Willis and Marcel Iures, helps carry the drama. The muted colors of the set (an entire prison camp replica was built on 400 acres of land in Milovice, Czechoslovakia for the film) adds to the sense of bleakness in the prison camp. This is a well-written, well-acted and well-constructed film. Not a classic, but a worthy entry into the POW genre. It rates a B.

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