Basic

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Basic

R

Released Apr 18, 2003

1h 38m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

21%

Tomatometer

141 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

During a special operations training mission in Panama, four U.S. soldiers are killed mysteriously, and their leader, Sgt. Nathan West, goes missing. A military investigator, Capt. Julia Osborne, has trouble convincing the two survivors to talk about what happened that night. A more experienced investigator, Tom Hardy, 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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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

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thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom, o filme coloca cenas de ação nas matas quase igual ao ranbo 2, só que nesse filme não tem nada de bom.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/03/25

Full Review

Travis C

Very confusing with all the different plot twists.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/24/25

Full Review

Ryan G

An excellent movie which has you thinking from start to finish. A rollercoaster of a guess who with absolutely outstanding performances across the board, with standout performances from both Travolta and Jackson. Not your run of the mill action/drama but definitely worth a watch

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/31/25

Full Review

Blake L

Horrendous casting and acting. Giovanni Ribis as some effeminate lost rich kid whose powerful father got him into Rangers training to hopefully fail or even be killed? The tiny tough latina who somehow can make it with the rest of the boys in an elite army training school. Travolta with his dumb ass face and sarcasm and cockiness that he brought to every movie in the years after getting his career revitalized in Pulp Fiction. All he needs to do is roll up his sleeve to show his Rangers tattoo and now he's believable. Suspension of disbelief is one thing but I'd have to be living in an alternate timeline to believe any of this for long enough to be entertained and get through my popcorn and soda.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/10/25

Full Review

Shawn R

Just terrible! Highly do not recommend

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

Full Review

Kams A

When there are too many twists you sort of expect the next one and get it right. That's what is wrong with this one.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/27/24

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

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Synopsis

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

Director: John McTiernan
Producer: Mike Medavoy, Arnie Messer, Michael Tadross, James Vanderbilt
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
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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