Breaker Morant

Edward Woodward, better known to American audiences as the Equalizer, plays the title role in this military courtroom drama set during the Boer War. Woodward who had a well known reputation as a rollicking writer of the Australian frontier was one of three men charged with murdering several prisoners during the Boer War, one of them happened to be a German missionary. That got Kaiser Wilhelm's back up and the British were not looking for intervention from him on the Boer side. One must remember that the Germans did have a presence in Africa at the time. The diplomatic situation was not unlike the Korean War before the Chinese intervened. What to do, but find someone to take the fall. Certainly not Lord Kitchener the commander of British forces in South Africa who let it be known quite unofficially and not on paper for attribution that he really wouldn't care if Boer Prisoners were shot. Edward Woodward, Bryan Brown and young Lewis Fitzgerald, get selected for a court martial. This is not unlike the more famous incident in the French Army during World War I as depicted in Paths of Glory. The Australians to this day feel that these men were singled out because they were Australians and not British. Wouldn't do to have His Majesty's subjects, let alone the commander be held responsible. While the Boer War was going on, the various colonies on the Australian continent coalesced and formed a nation. Why the Australian government didn't protest more vigorously is something I'm not quite understanding. That however does not detract from Breaker Morant being the fine film it is with sterling performances all around. Jack Thompson is the defense attorney in this court martial and does a splendid job in the face of a stacked deck. Alan Cassell is a bloodless Kitchener covering his own rear at all costs and Vincent Ball plays Sir Ian Hamilton who was Kitchener's aide at the time. Australia would meet these two later on under far worse circumstances as Kitchener was War Minister in the Asquith cabinet during World War I and Ian Hamilton was the commander-in-chief of the Gallipoli Expedition where so many ANZACS died in another foreign battlefield for another cause not really their concern. Hamilton is shown as quite the rat here, helping to cover his boss's complicity. I recommend Breaker Morant mostly for those who are not Australian so they can acquaint themselves with a sad and bitter chapter in that nation's life.

Reviewers have compared Breaker Morant with Paths of Glory, The Caine Mutiny and A Few Good Men, all involving courts martial. Suppressing my dislike of Kubrick, ignoring the naval jingoism spliced into The Caine Mutiny, and erasing the last 5 minutes of A Few Good Men, these weren't bad films. They were interesting, well-performed, raised provocative issues and all that. Breaker Morant, however, is everything those three are not. It's not in a different league, it's in a different dimension, stratospheric. It is real, as Woodward points out in his interview. It's visceral, gritty, organic, flawless. There's no Hollywood gloss, no pandering to the public, or vested interests. The other three movies are mechanical artefacts; you can see the machinery. Morant is dramatic art, at the topmost level. The editing is superb, the variation in scene after scene, close-ups, long-shots, is utterly masterful. Again, the dialogue, the sardonic humour, the tragedy, the irony, are all real. These men are rough and ready, in crumpled uniforms, truly in the field, on active service. There's no staging –-- well, there is, of course, it's a film --- but it just feels dead right, every time. It's not fancy. I'm reminded of what my boot camp drill sergeant told me, in 1956. This was a man who'd been busted two or three times, and who'd seen WWII in a British tank regiment, in the desert from Tobruk to Alamein. He told the rookie squad that the finest bunch of men he'd ever known were the Ozzies, and I've never forgotten that verdict. Anyone who gives this fabulous masterpiece less than ten stars needs his/her head examined.

Trailer—'Breaker' Morant

Edward Woodward delivers a powerful performance as Lt. Harry 'Breaker' Morant, who, along with two other Lieutenant's, is court martialed for murdering Boer POWs and a German missionary during the British Boer War of the late 19th & early 20th centuries. The three accused men don't deny the killings, but insist they were under orders to do so, and it was standard practice. Unfortunately for them, the court has already been instructed to find them guilty in order to appease the Boer government, as well as the Germans, who are considering entering the war on the side of the Boers. First-rate drama(directed by Bruce Beresford) about perfectly good soldiers being scapegoated and betrayed by their own government for political reasons is a subject that is sadly still with us. Memorable ending is the perfect coda to this intelligently presented and powerfully told film.

This is a remarkable film that remains as fresh as when it was produced. Edward Woodward has always been a favorite of mine and he was masterful as the title character. He seems incapable of giving any less than a strong performance in a variety of roles. "The Wicker Man" comes to mind, as well as the many episodes of "The Equalizer." It is easy to imagine the conflicts that inevitably occur between military superiors and the men on the front, and this film clearly shows that, in those days, command personnel were much more likely to be obeyed without question, even as the enlisted men suffered for their mistakes, errors of judgment or even criminality. For me, the frosting on the cake was using Woodward to sing "Soldiers of the Queen" during the roll of the credits. His clear and fine singing voice seemed to taunt the military brass. It is a crackerjack movie and NOT a tear-jerker, despite the story line.

Breaker Morant is not only a top legal movie, it's also a movie that gives you the opportunity to think about the law of war, heroes, scapegoats, and the ability to deliver justice in a legal system. "You can't handle the truth!!!" could well be the catch-cry of Breaker Morant. Edward Woodward, who was excellent in Callan (the swinging light bulb still haunts me to this day!!) and The Equalizer, is most impressive as one of the Australian officers on trial.

This movie shows what a truly hellish thing war can be. Where no rule but rule `3-0-3' exists. A lot of films show war in one slant or another, glorious or horrific. This one just shows it for what it is. A damned horrible mess. Many of the actors are some of Australia's finest and this movie is a credit to their skill and talent. It has simple production values but it is elevated by their acting abilities and the great script. A definite must for those who favor the war genre in films, and a measuring point for those who seek to make a film about war and the people caught up in it.

Truly great drama based on a real story. The camerawork is simple & not flashy, allowing the great script & magnificent ensemble cast to shine. There isn't one weak acting performance in this film, the standouts being Jack Thompson (in my opinion, his best ever performance)& Woodward in the role of "Breaker" Morant. Gripping drama that has aged well over 23 years. A must see 9/10.

When I watched this finely acted movie, I wasn't really too knowledgeable about the Boer War so I didn't know how historically accurate the film was. However, from reading the posts, it seems more knowledgeable posters then myself agree that the filmmakers were very authentic in their endeavors. Most pertinently, even though the story is about the General Staff scapgoating the three Australian lieutenants to cover their own practice of ordering Boer prisoners shot, in a war obviously long since concluded, its relevance is timeless and universal as soldiers in all times and places are asked to do things that conflict with their consciences. Breaker Morant shows this very powerfully. 9/10.

It's one of the most delightful experiences to watch a movie you know completely nothing about and it turns out to be one of the best surprises in a long time. This was the case with "Breaker' Morant". I dont even know why I bothered to watch it, since it sounded like a truly boring Australian war movie, but boy was I wrong and consequently glad I DID bother. Some of the acting and the script are truly Oscar-worthy and the photography and camera movements were truly outstanding on many occasions, taking the whole movie onto another level of experience. And not to forget, the poetry recited through the movie is brilliant. I wonder if it truly got published. 8/10