THE BANG BANG CLUB (Steven Silver). See listing. Rating: NNN
Should a photojournalist try to stop something horrible from happening or just get that great shot? What are the implications of white shooters making hay from black struggles? And what emotional price do photographers in war zones pay?
These are some of the questions driving Steven Silver’s hyperkinetic, tension-filled film about the titular group of journalists capturing the hostilities in 1994 South Africa for Johannesburg’s The Star. The action is extremely vivid, with a great cast – Ryan Phillippe keeps doing great work, and check out the breakout performance by riveting Taylor Kitsch – but the politics unfold in confusing ways.
Be sure you stay for the Club’s archival photos that run alongside the closing credits.
Read the feature interview with star Taylor Kitsch here.
