During the Cold War, tensions were rather high between the United States and the Soviet Union. Paranoia and defection were very common during this time as was hostility between the two countries. The Fourth War is a 1990 military-thriller which takes place during peacetime on the German-Czechoslovakian border in 1988. Roy Scheider (Jaws) and Jürgen Prochnow (Das Boot) star in the film which was directed by John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate).
Col. Jack Knowles (Scheider) is a former American hero who earned a strong reputation in Vietnam. He is bitter, has a bit of a drinking problem and has methods which are somewhat reckless. He is sent to the German-Czechoslovakian border by his superiors so that he won’t cause any trouble. However, this doesn’t stop him. On his first day in the area, Knowles bumps heads with Col. Valachev, a Russian soldier with an equally bad temper. As the film progresses, these two military men engage in a very private and personal war.
The Fourth War is an average Cold War thriller. The story is relatively decent but the script is severely lacking. There are however, some saving graces. One of these redeeming qualities is the acting which is pretty top notch. Scheider gives a solid performance as Knowles, a man who misses war and tries desperately to revisit it. Prochnow is also rather good as Valachev, and Harry Dean Stanton (Alien) is in fine form as Knowles’ superior Gen. Hackworth.
The late director John Frankenheimer has cranked out a reasonably good film here. Frankenheimer’s use of the camera is quite excellent and the Eastern Bloc setting is very dramatic. The Fourth War has a memorable plot and superb acting. It is entertaining and well-crafted all throughout. If you have nothing better to do for 90 minutes then this flick is work checking out.
DVD Bonus Features
The only bonus feature for The Fourth War is a trailer for the film.
"The Fourth War" is on sale July 5, 2011 and is rated R. Directed by John Frankenheimer. Written by Stephen Peters, Kenneth Ross. Starring Dale Dye, Harry Dean Stanton, Jurgen Prochnow, Roy Scheider, Tim Reid.
