Movie Reviews for Play Dirty

Play Dirty

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Movie Reviews of Play Dirty

Movie Review: Never heard of it before? Well there is a reason
Summary: 3 Stars

Quite in the same line as the Dirty Dozen and Kelly's Heroes I was surprised never to have heard about this film and seeing that it had great reviews I bought a copy.

The movie is entertaining but no masterpiece. The plot is very 1968'ish, with total disregard of actual facts, well except for the Germans vs. Britain bit. In many ways it is a remake of Sea of Sand (which remains the superior movie). We have a long range desert group sent to blow up Rommel's fuel dump. Michael Caine and Nigel Davenport more or less dominate the film and both are good in their roles although you sometimes get the feel of a Spagetti Western in the set up, the dialoge and how everyone is trying to screw everyone else up (hench the title). All in all it is entertaining and gritty at times but I don't find myself compelled to watch it again.

As to history the LRDG (Long Range Desert Group) was composed of very spirited volunteers, the original being mostly New Zealanders and certainly not convicts or disposables. In this field the movie shows total disregard and takes an open and wide artistic license. The Dirty Dozen (made in 1967) was closer to its mark but both movies were made when War movies were mostly fictional stories set in World War 2 and not as today when real life stories are prefered and in my opinion real life beats fiction hands down in every way.

So in the end I am not surprised that I only first heard of this movie a few months ago, while being a decent movie and entertaining to watch it fades in comparison with many of its counterparts and for a good reason.

Movie Review: A "Noir" WAR MOVIE
Summary: 3 Stars

with all the accouterments of a Film Noir flick, "Play Dirty", rolls along to its "Noir style" ending. Players make good decisions, bad decisons, testosterone based decisions, prejudiced decisions, and gain some nobility and affability as they survive the challenges of a botched suicide mission. Rival intelligence officers set competing missions loose to destroy a german fuel dump in the North African desert during WWII. One group, "Dirtier than the Dirty Dozen", nominally led by Michael Caine, sets off behind german lines with bare minimum equipment, while the other fully manned and well equipped follows close behind. With treachery, openly hostile groups and intra group conflict threatening the mission and michael caine every step of the way, they hit a "noir" spot in the mission, take a "noir" turn then a short jog to the "noir" ending. if you like film noir and war movies you'll like this one.

Movie Review: a dirty shame
Summary: 3 Stars

I bought this movie because of Michael Caine, but not even he could save it. A dirty shame. The movie has too many time-waster scenes and the ending is a downer. This movie I will give away and not waste space on my movie shelf. I wish they would reliece Tobruk on DVD.

Movie Review: "Play Dirty"
Summary: 3 Stars

Not Michael's best, I found it a little confusing. The mission seemed to be a waste of time. May be it was supposed to be, but I couldn't see why. Good desert scenes, more real than many. Good interpretation of desert warfare generally.