Basic

Name: Basic
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: March 28, 2003
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 34
Cast: Connie Nielsen, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson

2003

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 49 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 49 Ratings

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Basic

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) | Release Date: March 28, 2003 | R

Starring: Connie Nielsen, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson

Summary: When a legendary commander (Jackson) and several of his men turn up missing, the last thing the government wants is a rogue DEA agent (Travolta) investigating the disappearance. As the investigation unfolds, the agent is placed in direct conflict with the Army's official investigating officer (Nielsen) and nothing is as it seems. (Sony)

Director: John McTiernan

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 98 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Chris Kaltenbach

Buy your ticket, sit yourself down, and let ol' John take you for a ride. You'll have a blast. Read full review

Kim Morgan

Basic essentially is a fun movie, surprise ending and all. To take it too seriously is to miss the point. Travolta is charming, his performance recapturing the old charisma. Read full review

Desson Thomson

Entertainment more suitable for the living room than the movie theater. Read full review

Keith Phipps

For twists to work, viewers have to feel like they're being led along, not jerked around, and James Vanderbilt's script eventually devolves into little more than a series of jerks, stopping short only of introducing evil twins and alien interlopers. Read full review

Janice Page

Falls flat on two fronts: It's neither deep and interesting enough to be a brainteaser nor sufficiently thrilling to count as a mindless diversion. Read full review

David Sterritt

Travolta and Jackson have some effective scenes, but Nielsen is lacking in charisma, and James Vanderbilt's screenplay ought to be court-martialed. Read full review

Dallas Observer Robert Wilonsky

Basic really brings to mind a Travolta film from 2000, "Battlefield Earth," in that it's so astonishingly awful it becomes a sort of kinky pleasure; just when you think Travolta has fallen to the bottom of the barrel, he pulls out a shovel and dons his miner's helmet to see what lies beneath. Read full review

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User Reviews

Travolta123

Jul 30, 2016

When things go wrong in the armed forces, an investigative procedure often follows. In this film, when you think you've got it figured out, you're wrong... and the suspense just keeps culminating, and you end up on the edge of your sofa trying to figure out what went wrong, and you justWhen things go wrong in the armed forces, an investigative procedure often follows. In this film, when you think you've got it figured out, you're wrong... and the suspense just keeps culminating, and you end up on the edge of your sofa trying to figure out what went wrong, and you just can't until the very end. You're literally gobsmacked.

Travolta and L. Jackson are truly amazing in their performances in Basic, as they were in Pulp Fiction.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ElvisPresley321

Jul 30, 2016

Alright, yes this sort of film has been made before (Courage Under Fire) and yes it is a very military film. If you are one of those people who watch military films because of the guns and blood and guts then you won't enjoy this. That is not because this doesn't have those things, it does,Alright, yes this sort of film has been made before (Courage Under Fire) and yes it is a very military film. If you are one of those people who watch military films because of the guns and blood and guts then you won't enjoy this. That is not because this doesn't have those things, it does, but this is a thriller not a shoot'em up.
On to the film; the film itself is very mysterious, you don't quite know whats happening some of the time. Don't worry, this is meant to happen and it only adds to the film. Certain reviewers slated this film, probably because they enjoy shoot'em ups. This film doesn't focus on the weapons used by the 75th Army Regiment (US Army Rangers), or their soldiering tactics. This focuses on soldiers going through tough training, you might relate it to Royal Marines training, psychological and muscular rather than just the latter. I won't give away the plot, but this is a great film, not what you might expect from either Travolta or Jackson.
If you liked Courage Under Fire, or simply like thrillers with twists (and primarily do know a little bit about the military, not just guns) then you will like this film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Batman321

Jul 30, 2016

Really good film with strong, good actors. It is an action film with a twist. Probably enjoyable by most ages over 13.If you liked Fight Club,Sixth Sense,Memento,Identity & The General's Daughter then watch this.
Sent to investigate a training mission that goes wrong,nothing is as itReally good film with strong, good actors. It is an action film with a twist. Probably enjoyable by most ages over 13.If you liked Fight Club,Sixth Sense,Memento,Identity & The General's Daughter then watch this.
Sent to investigate a training mission that goes wrong,nothing is as it seems.John Travolta returns to form as a military man ( he is brilliant in General's Daughter) the very qunitessential Prince oF Cool & If you think that is good then the King of Cool Samuel L Jackson is also in it.
Highly recommend as a good crime thriller & great for Christmas time present… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DonnieB.

Jul 27, 2006

It is amazing to see how the world is full of sub-intelligent moviewatchers and critics, who find it hard or impossible to understand a more complicated plot then the one of "Lassie". Such people feel insulted by their own weak ability to comprehend anything more complicated than a wooden It is amazing to see how the world is full of sub-intelligent moviewatchers and critics, who find it hard or impossible to understand a more complicated plot then the one of "Lassie". Such people feel insulted by their own weak ability to comprehend anything more complicated than a wooden edge, so in frustration give a 0 for movies that make people think. What would you give for Revolver? A minus 5?? It's a surprisingly good movie, with an excellent script - if you like to think besides chewing popcorn, watch it!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

EmilyA.

Jan 25, 2007

I really enjoyed this movie. John Travolta and Sam Jackson are two of my favorite actors. I thought the twist behind it was very creative. At the end I just had to laugh! All the way through the movie you think it is something very serious and then Boom!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

jonslow

Dec 8, 2018

John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson. Classic.
There are so many twists. I like it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Broyax

Jan 10, 2017

Une bavure lors d'un entraînement militaire au Panama sous la houlette du méchant instructeur Jackson (qui s'amuse beaucoup), Travolta qui débarque comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles en improbable duo avec la capitaine Connie Nielsen : ces deux-là mènent alors l'enquête avec et contre lesUne bavure lors d'un entraînement militaire au Panama sous la houlette du méchant instructeur Jackson (qui s'amuse beaucoup), Travolta qui débarque comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles en improbable duo avec la capitaine Connie Nielsen : ces deux-là mènent alors l'enquête avec et contre les témoins -et suspects- restants à la manière d'A l'épreuve du feu.

ça fonctionne plutôt bien pendant (presque) les deux tiers du film malgré le cabotinage regrettable de Travolta, puis c'est la foire aux rebondissements débiles et aux révélations sorties d'une pochette-surprise jusqu'à la fin qui se vautre dans le ridicule, pour ne pas dire dans le foutage de gueule.

J'aime beaucoup Connie, sa jolie silhouette et son visage hypnotique, ce qui me pousse à une indulgence certaine. La réalisation de McTiernan est correcte mais sans plus et assez loin de celle de Predator (putain, c'est loin Predator, ça ne nous rajeunit pas !) mais ce foutoir qui sert de scénario est une mauvaise farce qui n'en finit plus de se prendre les pieds dans le tapis.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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91	#91 Most Discussed Movie of 2003
93	#93 Most Shared Movie of 2003