Beneath Hill 60 (2010)

There have been a few World War I films in the history of film. However a few years ago, there was a talentless hack of a filmmaker called Paul Gross, who was influenced to make a so called war film by the name of Passchendaele. That film, I believe is the worst film in the history of film. Anyhow, because of that film I was apprehensive to watching another WWI themed war film. Beneath Hill 60 on the other hand peaked my interest. I finally got around to watching it, and though there are some love elements (the film is based on fact, and the love subplot has a point to the film, unlike Passchendaele where the love story was irrelevant throughout the film, and a big waste of the viewer's time.). Beneath Hill 60 is a tense, thrilling and true story of a group of Australian miners who would go on to change the course of the war. They would create the biggest explosion the world had ever seen. Beneath Hill 60 is a wonderful war drama that brings to light an important, previously untold story. Like I've mentioned, this film is based on fact, so everything you'll see in the film is relevant to the story. The film does dip into the romance a bit, but it's never cheesy or overused to the point it becomes laughable (like in Passchendaele). Beneath Hill 60 has terrific scenes that shows the horror of battle, and will definitely appeal to war film buffs. I enjoyed this film because I love history and I have always been fascinated with both World Wars. Beneath Hill 60 isn't an action packed war film a la Saving Private Ryan, the combat scenes are toned down a bit, and director Jeremy Sims focuses more on the miners themselves, which of course is the focus of this film. This is a superbly well acted and told picture that tells an important story of how a mining Battalion changed the course of the war by protecting and setting up a labyrinth of explosive charges underneath German lines. One of the best war films in quite some time, Beneath Hill 60 redeems the World War I genre of film after the travesty that was Passchendaele. A very engaging film.