Basic

R

Released Apr 18, 2003

1 hr. 38 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

List

21%

143 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

During a special operations training mission in Panama, four U.S. soldiers are killed mysteriously, and their leader, Sgt. Nathan West (Samuel L. Jackson), goes missing. A military investigator, Capt. Julia Osborne (Connie Nielsen), has trouble convincing the two survivors to talk about what happened that night. A more experienced investigator, Tom Hardy (John Travolta), is brought in to crack the case. However, when the survivors do start talking, their stories differ from one another.

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Critics Consensus

Basic gets so needlessly convoluted in its plot twists that the viewer eventually loses interest.

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Coralie M

I do like criminal mysteries...army stle; the General's Daughter; is another winner there. This is a gem that might take you tumbling into the heart of 'what DID happen?'; that should perhaps be best summed up by the prisoner's innocuous 'who cares what happened there? It's how you tell the story that matters' Something like that For me, the lingering question remains: was John Travolta's character undercover at thr beginning of the movie 🤔

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/19/24

Full Review

Kyle M

While twists pleasantly struck unsuspecting viewers then refine the film's watchability by sharpened focus, becoming a praiseworthy effective impact giving the affected picture another level unveiled, this ironically-titled film overdid to the point of losing its footing. Stars a nice cast amid exceptional production merits for effective momentum, the many unfolding twists it contains scrunches in convolution whilst remain engaged till you feel both grips loosen when facing "clever" indecision. (B-)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/11/24

Full Review

Forged S

Billed at the time as the return of John McTiernan (of Die Hard and Predator fame) and the reunion of John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson. There was even a piece on how Travolta (specifically) had gotten in great shape for his role. And what was the result? Honestly, at the time, I wasn't impressed. Sure, it was an alluring, military noir, set on a perpetually rain-soaked military base as an military investigator tried to uncover a mystery with multiple points of view and twists abound. But something about the movie felt, lacking. At. That. Time. But watching the film today, I have a deeper appreciation for the storytelling and the classic Rashomon multiple point of view troupe. Plus, Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta are absolutely amazing together even if they hardly share any screen time.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Matthew T

Travolta with another stinker

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/17/23

Full Review

Alec B

The screenplay starts off alright, promising a "Rashomon" type narrative, but it delivers a series of outrageous twists instead.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/13/23

Full Review

jwcdood

Essentially, BASIC is a good story with a screenplay that isn't because includes too many twists too fast. I'd need to watch it again to make sense of it. And, most of the characters showing up in the final scene to explain what the audience was supposed to see pretty much confirms that it wasn't me that wasn't making sense of things. Some of the other reviews are similar to my take on it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/12/23

Full Review

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John McTiernan

Director

John Travolta

Tom Hardy

Connie Nielsen

Lt .Julia Osborne

Samuel L. Jackson

Sgt. Nathan West

Giovanni Ribisi

Levi Kendall

Brian Van Holt

Raymond Dunbar

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Basically bad and sorry attempt at a thriller.

Rated: 1/5

Sep 30, 2010

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Director John McTiernan does a swell job with James Vanderbilt's sneaky script in keeping us guessing.

Mar 31, 2010

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 1/5

Dec 19, 2003

Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

A poor effort with a confusing story and ridiculous plot twist after plot twist.

Apr 29, 2009

Full Review

Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 1/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 2/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

During a special operations training mission in Panama, four U.S. soldiers are killed mysteriously, and their leader, Sgt. Nathan West (Samuel L. Jackson), goes missing. A military investigator, Capt. Julia Osborne (Connie Nielsen), has trouble convincing the two survivors to talk about what happened that night. A more experienced investigator, Tom Hardy (John Travolta), is brought in to crack the case. However, when the survivors do start talking, their stories differ from one another.

Director: John McTiernan
Executive Producer: Jonathan D. Krane, Basil Iwanyk, Nigel Sinclair, James Vanderbilt, Moritz Borman
Screenwriter: James Vanderbilt
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Phoenix Pictures, InterMedia Film Equities Ltd.
Rating: R (Violence|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 18, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.5M
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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