Tears of the Sun (2003)

March 7, 2003 (US) • War, Action, Drama • 121m

Overview

Navy SEAL Lieutenant A.K. Waters and his elite squadron of tactical specialists are forced to choose between their duty and their humanity, between following orders by ignoring the conflict that surrounds them, or finding the courage to follow their conscience and protect a group of innocent refugees. When the democratic government of Nigeria collapses and the country is taken over by a ruthless military dictator, Waters, a fiercely loyal and hardened veteran is dispatched on a routine mission to retrieve a Doctors Without Borders physician.

Director

Antoine Fuqua

Writers

Patrick Cirillo, Alex Lasker

Top Billed

Bruce Willis

Keywords

civil war war crimes refugee village evacuation border rescue mission us army nigeria president doctor massacre brutality military child soldier

Where to watch

Free / Included

Netflix

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Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel

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Top Billed Cast

Bruce Willis

Lieutenant A.K. Waters

Monica Bellucci

Dr. Lena Fiore Kendricks

Cole Hauser

James 'Red' Atkins

Eamonn Walker

Ellis 'Zee' Pettigrew

Johnny Messner

Kelly Lake

Nick Chinlund

Michael 'Slo' Slowenski

Tom Skerritt

Captain Bill Rhodes

Akosua Busia

Patience

Peter Mensah

Terwase

Malick Bowens

Colonel Idris Sadick

Chad Smith

Jason 'Flea' Mabry

Charles Ingram

Demetrius 'Silk' Owens

Paul Francis

Danny 'Doc' Kelley

Sammi Rotibi

Arthur Azuka

Jimmy Jean-Louis

Gideon

Awaovieyi Agie

Musa

Ida Onyango

Lasana

Benjamin Ochieng

Colonel Emanuel Okeze

Kanayo Chiemelu

General Mustafa Yakubu

Hadar Busia-Singleton

Amaka

Fabrice Yahve Habimana Jr.

Bujo

Fionnula Flanagan

Sister Grace

Cornelia Hayes O'Herlihy

Sister Siobhan

Pierrino Mascarino

Father Gianni

Howard Mungo

President Samuel Azuka

Cle Sloan

Mission Rebel

Allison Dean

Rape Victim

Rodney Charles

Christopher Marwa

Jewel McDonald

Village Woman

Harry Van Gorkum

Carrier Reporter

Michael Clossin

Rhodes' Aide

Crew

Ian Bryce

Producer

Lisa Gerrard

Original Music Composer

Christopher Holmes

Editor

Mike Lobell

Producer

Mauro Fiore

Director of Photography

Antoine Fuqua

Director

Arnold Rifkin

Producer

Joe Roth

Executive Producer

Conrad Buff IV

Editor

Patrick Cirillo

Screenplay

Alex Lasker

Screenplay

Naomi Shohan

Production Design

Marlene Stewart

Costume Design

Mark Peterson

Costume Supervisor

David Lazan

Art Direction

Larry Dias

Set Decoration

Mary Vernieu

Casting

Eric Chambers

Stunts

Hans Zimmer

Original Music Composer

Domenic Silvestri

Set Designer

Michael Herbick

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Douglas Olivares

Camera Operator

Lars Jensvold

Visual Effects Editor

Mary Anne Seward

Script Supervisor

Jason Bedig

Leadman

Maurice K. McGuire

Camera Operator

Joe Ondrejko

Construction Coordinator

Gary Diamond

Set Designer

Phil Neilson

Stunt Coordinator

Ronald S. Baratie

Greensman

Isaia Robins

Greensman

Ken J. Johnson

Sound Effects Editor

Frank Masi

Still Photographer

Lori Harris

Set Costumer

Rhona Gordon

Studio Teachers

Robert Fechtman

Assistant Art Director

Slamm Andrews

Music Editor

John Blake

Makeup Department Head

George Simpson

Supervising Sound Editor

Daniel J. Leahy

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Marvin E. Lewis

Boom Operator

Melody Bishop

Art Department Coordinator

Barbara Mesney

Set Designer

Maguy R. Cohen

Translator

Scott Farrar

Visual Effects Supervisor

Steven Schwartz

Assistant Art Director

Steve Pederson

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Charisse Cardenas

Set Designer

Denise Ream

Visual Effects Producer

Randy Peters

Transportation Coordinator

Michael Bauman

Gaffer

Eugene Collier

Stunts

Heidi Fugeman

Associate Producer

Steven P. Saeta

Co-Producer

Stephen J. Eads

Associate Producer

Cathy Schulman

Associate Producer

Steven P. Saeta

Unit Production Manager

Ernie Malik

Unit Publicist

Jim Passon

Color Timer

John Charles

Software Engineer

Layla Alexander

Stunts

Chantal Boom'la

Makeup Effects

Steena Petersen

Security

Jonas C. Matz

Set Medic

Sheree Greco

Set Production Assistant

Kevin Brown

Electrician

Daniel R. Chavez

Executive In Charge Of Post Production

Liz Matthews

Location Manager

Amina Allean Dieye

Researcher

Bruce Fowler

Orchestrator

Heather Hudson

Art Department Assistant

Ken J. Johnson

Sound Designer

David M. Gray

Visual Effects Coordinator

Dan Moore

Additional Photography

Shalimar Reodica

Casting Associate

Tory Mercer

Digital Compositors

John Frazier

Special Effects Supervisor

Kenneth Walker

Key Hair Stylist

Susan E. Novick

Post Production Supervisor

Michael Tolochko

Best Boy Electric

Leslie Devlin

Makeup Artist

Guy Belegaud

Construction Foreman

Kelly Loo

Driver

Kym Stys

Stand In

Charlie McIntyre

Rigging Gaffer

Gary Katsuya Ushino

First Assistant Camera

Mike Cunningham

Armorer

Armen Gharagozian

Rigging Grip

Brett Phillips

Propmaker

Irish Barber

Transportation Captain

Josef Cannon

Utility Stunts

Willie D. Burton

Production Sound Mixer

Mitchell Bell

Production Coordinator

Erma Kent

Hairstylist

Bob Wachs

Transportation Co-Captain

Carole A. Kenneally

First Assistant Editor

Steven J. Winslow

Camera Technician

Scott Ejercito

Projection

Denise Morgan McGrath

Production Accountant

Malcolm Luker

Scoring Mixer

Patrick Phillips

Visual Effects

Toby Bronson

Key Set Costumer

Alan Mozo

Grip

Jeff Okabayashi

Second Assistant Director

Beanie Barnes

Casting Assistant

Matthias Weber

Music Programmer

Seth Greenwald

Dolly Grip

Mo Henry

Negative Cutter

Oscar Mitt

Assistant Sound Editor

Douglas Noe

Prosthetic Makeup Artist

Mike Chock

Foley Editor

K.C. Hodenfield

First Assistant Director

Kelly Clear

Chief Lighting Technician

Elizabeth Kenton

ADR Supervisor

Larry Blanford

Aerial Director of Photography

Stuart Abramson

Key Grip

Cathie Valdovino

Tailor

Barbara Harris

ADR Voice Casting

Rebeka L. Roberts

Ager/Dyer

Holly Davis

Key Costumer

Hugh Marsh

Musician

Russell Maki

Set Dresser

David Paris

Pilot

Susan Ehrhart

Assistant Production Coordinator

Melissa Feinberg

Assistant Property Master

Randy Peters

Aerial Coordinator

Thomas L. Gunderson

Animal Coordinator

Mary Andrews

ADR Editor

Bob Badami

Supervising Music Editor

Richard Snell

Key Makeup Artist

Harrison White

Playback Singer

Deborah Rutherford

Makeup Artist

Jim Dooley

Additional Music

Phil Neilson

Second Unit Director

Tyler Allison

Assistant Camera

Sean Landeros

Sound Recordist

Susan Dudeck

Dialogue Editor

Eric J. Bates

Property Master

David H. Allen

Property Master

Curt Schulkey

Dialogue Editor

Hugo Weng

Dialogue Editor

Keith Woulard

Stunt Coordinator

Daniel Boccoli

Assistant Editor

Nancy Collini

Costumer

Brad Bell

Assistant Location Manager

Shannon Hart

Assistant Decorator

Josephine Nericcio

First Assistant Sound Editor

Lisa Gerrard

Vocals

Deedra Ricketts

Extras Casting

K.D. Smith

Extras Casting Assistant

Ken Bazal

Second Assistant Camera

Jennifer Calbi

Assistant Editor

Norman Kali

Location Assistant

Anne Marie Wilson

Art Department Production Assistant

Jason Sweers

Graphic Designer

Charles Grisham

Stunt Double

Joseph K. Borrelli

Assistant Accountant

Kira Burns

Extras Casting Coordinator

Jim Magdaleno

Storyboard Artist

Howard London

ADR Mixer

Giselle Gurza

Additional Second Assistant Director

Bruce Fowler

Conductor

Paula Case

Second Second Assistant Director

Archie Ahuna

Special Effects Technician

Simone Perusse

Assistant Chief Lighting Technician

Robert Baek

Additional Second Assistant Camera

John Joseph Thomas

Foley Supervisor

Adam Howell

Intern

Doug Carter

Production Assistant

Harry Humphries

Technical Advisor

Noelle Coughlan

First Assistant Accountant

John Armstrong

Generator Operator

Scott Hanson

Production Secretary

Eileen M. Dennis

Second Assistant Accountant

Sissy Grover

Travel Coordinator

David Krudis

Payroll Accountant

Russell Earl

CG Supervisor

Clinton Wayne

Prosthetic Makeup Artist

Reviews

Wuchak

⭐ 6/10

January 29, 2023

**_Solemn life-or-death jungle mission is one-note, but worthwhile for a few reasons_**

A squadron of Navy Seals led by Lt. Waters (Bruce Willis) are ordered to Nigeria to remove a beautiful American doctor (Monica Belucci) from a Christian village before Islamic militants move in and annihilate 'em all. The Doctor insists that "her people" go with them and so Waters opts for leading 'em out on foot to the Cameroon border. Will they make it out alive?

"Tears of the Sun" (2003) has an ultra-serious vibe and _some_ depth. If you appreciate "The 7th Dawn" (1964) with William Holden and Capucine, this is cut from the same cloth, just with modern production quality and more focus on grim jungle drama & action, like "Rambo" (2008). While it's arguably on par with "The 7th Dawn," it doesn't stand with the giants of the genre, such as "Apocalypse Now" (1979) or "Platoon" (1986).

For one thing, the characters outside of those played by Willis and Belucci are relatively forgettable, which isn't the case with "Apocalypse Now" and "Platoon" wherein you know and remember the bulk of the key characters. Another good example would be "Last Of The Mohicans" (1992), which has a similar tone and theme, i.e. protagonists being chased through the forest by savage antagonists.

The issue I have with "Tears of the Sun" is that it jumps right into the thick of the jungle story without allowing the viewer to get to know anyone. The theme is heavy and the vibe is fittingly serious, including the score, but because we aren't emotionally tied to the characters the picture comes across too heavy-handed and melodramatic. It doesn't help that it's one-dimensional.

Meanwhile the 2-hour movie is fairly slow moving with the big-action sequence not taking place until the finale. The problem with this "exciting" climax is that the viewer, once again, doesn't care what happens at this point because we don't really know the characters and therefore have little emotional attachment.

Although the story takes place in Nigeria the picture was obviously shot in Hawaii. The difference in geography is enough that the film loses points for realism, but who can deny the beauty of Hawaii? So maybe it gains the points back.

The Director's Cut merely adds the deleted scenes from the Special Edition DVD to the film. In other words, unless you absolutely love the flick it's not necessary to buy the Director's Cut; just watch the deleted scenes. Speaking of the deleted scenes, there's one quietly potent scene where a black American talks with a black Nigerian. It has good dialogue and should've never been cut.

Yet "Tears of the Sun" has some attributes, including the ultra-serious vibe, cinematography, score and Monica Belucci. The harrowing sequence where the squadron saves a rural village from some ruthless militants is well done. But this is far from a good film IMHO; at the same time, it's not bad and has its points of interest. Check out "Rambo" (2008) if you want to see the same theme done in a more effective manner.

GRADE: B-/C+

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