Zulu (2013)

Zulu (2013) starring Orlando Bloom and Forest Whitaker in this film festival, limited theatrical release dates in several countries. Zulu starts off as a typical crime drama thriller introducing the characters and the back story. It takes a while for the film to settle in its pace. Which apparently takes several minutes too long. Once the film connects with the viewers, the setting and atmosphere of the film become more valuable as we are seeing a picture takes place. Zulu doesn't offer anything new, though fans of the genre should enjoy the film for its decent acting (Orlando Blooms is great here, while Forest Whitaker uses a forced accent), and a great scenery. Overall the film feels somewhat too long and for the most part is relatively boring. The final act, within its last 30 minutes or so the film becomes much more interesting, however still predictable but it is set up neatly watching everything unfold.

I was interested enough to watch this movie for several factors, like the cast (Orlando Bloom and Forest Whitaker), the South African setting, and the fact that the filmmakers were not American - the last two factors promising that the film would feel a lot different than Hollywood product. But to be honest, I kind of felt let down by what I saw. The main problem with the movie is that there is a distinct lack of tension and urgency for the most part. Yes, there is some brutal violence here and there, but otherwise the movie felt kind of soft and slow, and I found it hard to get involved with the story. Also, while the South African backdrop does definitely provide some color and originality, at the same time the movie more often than not feels and looks like a television show. A respectfully budgeted TV show, but a TV show all the same. While I wouldn't immediately say no to watching something else by these same filmmakers, I would hope that they would have learned from their mistakes here.

This movie couldn't be further from the truth.It is very clear that this is a story conceived with American culture in mind and then adapted to the racism, drug trafficking of South Africa.The performances are unrealistic to real life in Cape Town (and lets bear in mind that Cape Town is a social beat unlike any other South African city), it is a mess.People do their best to avoid each other or getting involved with the law. The black stripper girl scene would never happen in South Africa. The girl on the horse/beach scene would never happen in South Africa.If a woman on a horse sees a strange man lurking around an abandoned building on a relatively quiet beach, it is common South African and especially Cape Town sense to steer very clear and just chalk it up to a guy going for a pee.There is not a chance that she would approach the guy, question the guy and then trust to meet the guy at a police station without ever seeing a badge! That is just utter fantasy.What I am getting at here is that this story it terribly forced, it it clearly written by someone who has never lived in South Africa or if they have, they do not have a very keen eye and sense for what makes South African people South African people.Apart from the star cast of Mr Bloom and Mr Whitaker, The rest of the cast is a bevy of B grade actors that made it into the film compliments from the ever-present Capetonian nepotism.If you look up the SA cast you will find a very intricate web of people that went to school together or are directly linked via blood or some close friend.Unfortunately the cast director for Zulu was not presented with a list of the best actors it could buy, but a list of 'who thinks they are who' on the Cape Town social/film scene.It makes me very sad as I was looking forward to watching this film and seeing somebody tackle this subject, but it is clear to me that this film is an even worse botch than The Tourist ever was.

It's funny (sort of), that after watching this movie, I felt like this could've been a story arc in a really good TV show. You could "exploit" (make this bigger, a season filling thread) and it would still work. Having said that, the corruption theme, the theme of violence is not new. Forrest Whitacker and Orlando Bloom help elevate this movie quite a lot (the depiction of brutality also does, if you are not appalled by it of course).The story is easy to follow, with family problems thrown in for good measure. The back-story and the political themes are woven nicely into it all, without it getting too complex. A really good thriller, that unfortunately did not well at the Box Office.