"Three leads, they're all really charismatic and Steve Zahn, who can be a little bit over the top sometimes, is very nicely restrained here. I'm gonna give it three and a half stars." Margaret Pomeranz AT THE MOVIES "... for a first feature I think it's really quite accomplished." "... good old-fashioned action movie. Three and a half from me .." David Stratton AT THE MOVIES "Sahara is pure, unadulterated escapist entertainment. Sure, there's an underlying theme about making the world a better place, and a struggle between good and evil, but at its heart there's a larger-than-life hero who shrugs at convention, and draws us in for a rip-roaring adventure at reminds us that life is for living." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE "Sahara is a good example of an adaptation from a novel that actually works as an escapist entertainment with a few serious themes to give it some meaning. It plays like a sort of Bondiana Jones, but director Breck Eisner has avoided the traps of formula, while using the structure to full effect. So it's old fashioned but new fangled, with the tension well maintained throughout: strong narrative, good characterisation and heaps of fun." Andrew L Urban URBAN CINEFILE

"If you’re just looking for some fun without having to think, this movie is for you." Stefan Halley HERO REALM "A surprisingly fun action comedy with a cast that connects." Rebecca Murray ABOUT.COM "Zahn is a scene stealer. He brings humour and humility to his role and is the perfect foil for McConaughey's go-getting - yet schoolboy naughty - action man. Macy is a well of seriousness and authority. Sahara successfully captures the adventurism of the Indiana Jones films, King Solomon's Mines and Romancing The Stone. It's funny, clean, implausible and a rollicking good ride." Stephen Samuelson FAIRFAX MEDIA "The action sequences are expertly staged. A high-speed boat chase is the standout, but other key moments such as a desert chase in an antique car and the boarding of a train on camelback will please audiences looking for white-knuckled suspense. The film's soundtrack is upbeat and contemporary, complementing the overall sense of fun that Eisner is keen to achieve." Mark Beirne OURBRISBANE

The Inside Story

"As Hollywood actioners go these days, this one’s quite tolerable in its guilty-pleasure way. Feel free to saddle up." Peter Canavese GROUCHO REVIEWS

Many will be asking, "Who is Dirk Pitt? Those who are familiar with the novels of author Clive Cussler will already know the answer to that question. Dirk Pitt is a NUMA agent and Master Explorer who has featured in 18 Cussler novels, the first of which was published in 1973. Not enough information? Well, he's the star of the new action adventure film "Sahara" which was the 11th Dirk Pitt adventure novel, but that doesn't reveal a whole lot does it? "Dirk’s the kind of guy who could be wrestling alligators on a Saturday morning and then wear a tux to dance with the queen at a ball on Saturday night," says Matthew McConaughey. "He’s a senator’s son, a scientist, a polished, blue ribbon guy; at the same time, he’s a treasure-hunting pirate, a rascally rogue, a barroom-brawling, tequila-drinking scoundrel." Anything else we can add to the list Matt? "He’s always a gentleman." McConaughey, who was last seen in the romantic comedy "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days" wears the role of Dirk Pitt like a well fitting glove. While that may be so, every cinemagoer knows that most action, adventure film don't survive just on the hero factor. There are at the least six essential ingredients to most rip roarin', action packed adventure film. The first and most obvious of these has already been provided in the shape of Dirk Pitt. The second is that every adventurer needs a side-kick. Dirk's side-kick is Al Giordino, played by actor Steve Zahn. Al provides back-up for his buddy [whom he's known since Kindergarten, High School, whenever]. Al also provides the comedy relief throughout the film. "Plain and simple, Dirk couldn’t survive without Al," Steve Zahn notes. "Sure, Dirk looks good. He’s a smooth dude, a talker, a politician of sorts. But Al’s the one who knows where the lug nuts are kept, if you know what I mean. They’ve got different talents, and that makes them an unstoppable duo. Sure, whenever there’s danger, Dirk’s the one who dives in first, but Al’s right behind him and right behind Dirk isn’t always the safest place to be." That leaves just four essentials. Now what could that be? Of course, any adventurer worth his/her salt must be on the trail of something. In "Sahara", Dirk Pitt is on the trail of a sunken Civil War battleship the CSS Ironclad Texas and its cargo of gold coins. And yes, in line with the genre, there is a twist to that. After all, what sort of a plot would it be without a couple of twists? "There’s this mystery that’s been going on for 150 years: what happened to a missing Ironclad battleship; and Dirk’s determined to get to the bottom of it,” says director Breck Eisner. "That’s where the story starts and it ends up thousands of miles away, in the middle of the Sahara desert." That leaves just three on our list. The fourth essential is the setting or location. The title of the film says it all, doesn't it? The word 'Sahara' conjures up all sorts of expectations and images. "You fly Los Angeles to London, London to Casablanca, Casablanca to Ouarzazate. You land there at midnight after 24 hours of flight time. There are no lights. You go to bed, and then you get up at 8:00 a.m. and get in a car for a seven-hour drive to Erfoud. This town was one of the last stops before the Sahara," Rainn Wilson explained. "There’s a French Legionnaire’s fort just outside the town. It’s so beautiful out there. There’s something mesmerizing about the desert." Next there has to the obligatory baddie. In the case of "Sahara" there are two to contend with. One is Malian leader General Kazim and the other a businessman named Massarde. That leaves us with what many consider is the most important ingredient and the essential requirement for a film in this genre. There has to be a good looking, voluptuous chick. In this case it is Penélope Cruz who plays a World Health Organization doctor, Eva Rojas. Generally 'the chick' in this sort of flick only has to look good, wear singlet tops, breath heavy and not say much. In this instance Penélope Cruz does a fine job. "She’s no damsel in distress," says Penélope Cruz. "She’s very active. In fact, she rescues Dirk on more than one occasion. And, of course, that’s just the kind of woman that Dirk would be interested in, they have great chemistry." Needless to say with every essential jam-packed into this 'Pitt' adventure, one could conclude that "Sahara" is a film that will certainly meet most peoples expectations. And so it should, because not only is it a good, fun, action packed flick, it is one that never drags its feet! At a touch over two hours it never feels long. "Nothing in this story should be taken overly seriously," says Matthew McConaughey. "This is an adventure, a fable. We take a certain amount of movie magic and turn it into reality. Everything adds up in a satisfying way when that magic kicks in." The bonus for those who discover the magic in "Sahara" could well be that the door has been opened for a sequel or two. Meet The Characters Matthew McConaughey is Dirk Pitt. "Sometimes he’s a scientist, sometimes he’s an inventor, sometimes he’s an adventurer," he says. "He’s a guy who’s got plans, but those plans are always changing; he’s ready for the unexpected. He’s a great adapter. He’s been a Navy SEAL, but he’s also part pirate. He’s definitely a lover before a fighter, but if he’s got to fight, he handles his own."
Steve Zahn is Al Giordino. "Al’s much more of a cynic than Dirk is," he says."Dirk gets his theories and Al’s not sure he believes everything that Dirk believes. But when Dirk’s trying to piece it all together, Al’s right there behind him. In the end, I think Al respects and trusts him, and vice versa." McConaughey says, "Al and Dirk are always messin’ with each other about something or other but they have each other’s back the whole way. There’s constant ribbing, but when it’s time to get serious, they’re professionals. They can handle everything they need to handle." Director Eisner notes, "Al’s a complex character, because he brings a comedic, dry, wry sense of humor to the film, but he’s also a very serious person when he’s put in life-and-death situations. It was very important that he didn’t come across as a goofball."
Penélope Cruz is World Health Organizations Dr Eva Rojas. "I’ve read many screenplays where the male characters are much more interesting than the female characters," she said. "That’s not the case here. Eva has so many layers and colors; she’s an integral part of the story. What she has to say is important. What she discovers is important. I like her personality a lot. She’s up for just as much adventure as the boys. She’s a very, very fun character, completely different from anything I’ve ever done before. It turns out that I’m the perfect age for this kind of character because the doctors that are going into the most dangerous places are the youngest."
William H Macy is Admiral Sandecker. "I like the admiral’s power. I’m getting to an age in my career when all I’ve got left is my cold, steely glare," jokes Macy. "He’s a powerful man, an intellectual man, a guy who’s been through it all and has now garnered the power to command other men. After playing the callow youth for 45 years, it’s a good change. Sandecker was a Navy man for many years, then left the service under dubious circumstances. He’s somewhat bitter about that and he’s resolute that he’ll never work for the government again." "You definitely get the sense that Sandecker’s got a bit of a checkered past," adds McConaughey. Filming Quotes From Sahara "We would be constructing our sets and we’d be able to see clearly for miles and miles. Ten minutes later, I wouldn’t be able to see my hand in front of my face," Production Designer Allan Cameron said. "And it’s hot. Standing on the dunes, it’s 120 degrees."
"Everyone always says, ‘It never rains in the desert,’” says producer Howard Baldwin. "You’ll never see rain. We haven’t had rain for 40 years. Cut to a vicious rainstorm."
"And if it wasn’t the sandstorms, and it wasn’t the rain, it was the locusts. We ran into the middle of a bona fide plague," Director Breck Eisner says. "It’s difficult to get them out of the shot when they’re flying everywhere."
"The wind just whips up and blows all the sand around, it’s so fine, like talcum powder," notes Producer Mace Neufeld. "One day, it’ll be beautiful, and the next day, sand blowing everywhere. The shots wouldn’t match and we couldn’t keep the sand out of the camera gate."
"I think Matthew would have done every stunt in the movie if the insurance company had let him," laughs Eisner. "As a director, that’s the best possible situation; you can get right in there with the camera and see that it’s really the star. You can shoot it the way you’d like and not worry about accidentally revealing the stuntman’s face. It really opens up the palette."
"We could have a beautiful morning at 8:00 a.m.," says McConaughey, "and by lunch, we’d be in the middle of a sandstorm. You see it coming over the horizon, and it just hits. We would have about 30 yards of vision and that’s not even as bad as it gets. When they get really bad, you have about three or four feet."
"I’ve never done as much prep for a movie, ever," says Steve Zahn. "We spent a week at Shepperton Studios in London, familiarizing ourselves with all the weapons we were going to be using. Then, Matthew and I and Harry Humphries, our military advisor, went to Erfoud about two weeks before the rest of the cast and crew. We spent the time running around the desert, adjusting to the environment, and getting all the dune workouts that the military gets." Crew Bytes "SAHARA" was .......
directed by Breck Eisner [Spielbergs TV Mini Series "Taken"]; screenplay by John C Richards ["Nurse Betty" and "Tishomingo Blues"], James V Hart ["Contact", "Bram Stoker’s Dracula" and "Tuck Everlasting"] and Thomas Dean Donnelly & Joshua Oppenheimer ["Thoughtcrimes"]; original story by Clive Cussler ["Raise the Titanic"]; costume design by Anna Sheppard ["Dragonheart", "The Insider", "The Pianist" and "Around the World in 80 Days"]; production design by Allan Cameron ["Showgirls", "The Mummy Returns", "Shanghai Knights" and "Van Helsing"]; edited by Andrew MacRitchie ["Who Framed Roger Rabbit", "Patriot Games", "Tomorrow Never Dies", "The World Is Not Enough" and "Agent Cody Banks 2"]; cinematography Seamus McGarvey B.S.C. ["Jump The Gun", "Enigma", "The Hours", "The Actors" and "Along Came Polly"]; original music by Clint Mansell ["Requiem for a Dream", "Rain", "Knockaround Guys" and "Man on Fire"] produced by Stephanie Austin ["True Lies", "The Long Kiss Goodnight", "Behind Enemy Lines" and "Shanghai Knights"], Howard Baldwin ["Sound of Thunder", "Danny Deckchair", "Swimming Upstream" and "Ray"], Karen Elise Baldwin/ ["Game Of Their Lives", "Children on Their Birthdays", "Joshua" and "Ray"] and Mace Neufeld ["Lost in Space", "Patriot Games", "The Hunt for Red October" and "The Sum of All Fears"]. Casting About "SAHARA" stars .......
Matthew McConaughey ["Amistad", "Contact", "Dazed and Confused" and "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days"]; Steve Zahn ["Reality Bites", "That Thing You Do", "Out Of Sight" and "Riding in Cars with Boys"]; Penélope Cruz ["Jamón, Jamón", "All About My Mother", "Captain Corelli’s Mandolin" and "Don’t Move"]; Delroy Lindo ["The Core", "Clockers", "The Cider House Rules" and "Heist"]; Lennie James ["Lost in Space", "Les Misérables", "The Announcement" and "24 Hour Party People"]; Rainn Wilson ["Galaxy Quest", "Almost Famous", "America’s Sweethearts" and "House of 1,000 Corpses"]; Glynn Turman ["Men of Honor", "How Stella Got her Groove Back", "Men of Honor" and "The Visit"]; Lambert Wilson ["Jefferson in Paris", "Matrix Reloaded", "Matrix Revolutions" and "Catwoman"] and William H Macy ["Radio Days", "The Client", "Boogie Nights", "Fargo" and "The Cooler"] as Admiral James Sandecker. What It's All About

"Steve Zahn rocks! Though at times the film certainly stretches the believability factor, it is always engaging, always fun." Ross Anthony HOLLYWOOD REPORT CARD

Doctor Eva Rojas believes she is on the trail of a deadly disease which is affecting locals in Lagos, Nigeria. She wants her superior, Dr Hopper to inform the World Health Organisation before it gets out of hand and spreads throughout North Africa. This latest victim has been in Mali. While tracking down the father of the latest victim Dr Rojas is attacked. Luckily Dirk Pitt comes to her rescue but not before the assailants escape with a bag containing her notes. Dirk, a NUMA agent and master explorer, and Eva, are destined to meet again. He is on the trail of a heavily armoured Civil War battleship the CSS Ironclad Texas and its cargo of gold, believed to have sunk in the region. Later Dirk rescues Eva when her party is butchered by General Kazim . Pitt, his side-kick Al Giordino and Dr Rojas join forces in an effort to track down the battleship local natives call the "Ship Of Death" and at the same time find the cause of the disease. Then Dirk receives a call which reveals that the plight of the locals is from a far sinister source. One which, if left unchecked, could affect the whole world. The Verdict "A mixture of goofing-off, wisecracks, action, excitement and adventure, all of which makes for good fun and the chance to indulge oneself by enjoying a little escapism. McConaughey and Steve Zhan make the perfect 'buddies' in this cheeky film that combines the action, adventure and intrigue of Indiana Jones with the irresistable charm of the James Bond films. A good excuse to spend a pleasant couple of hours at the cinema. Look out for a sequel. Very Recommended." The Cast

Matthew McConaughey Steve Zahn Penélope Cruz Glynn Turman William H Macy Lambert Wilson Delroy Lindo Dayna Cussler Clint Dyer Lennie James Patrick Malahide Nathan Osgood Billy Seymour Mark Wells Rainn Wilson

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Dirk Pitt Al Giordino Eva Rojas Dr Hopper Admiral James Sandecker Massarde CIA Agent Carl Kitty Mannock Oshodi General Kazim Ambassador Polidori Gun Lt Powder Monkey Sailor Rudi Gunn

The Crew Directed by Breck Eisner From the novel by Clive Cussler Screenplay by Thomas Dean Donnelly/Joshua Oppenheimer/John C Richards/James V Hart Produced by Stephanie Austin/Howard Baldwin/Karen Elise Baldwin/Mace Neufeld Original Music by Clint Mansell Cinematography by Seamus McGarvey Film Editing by Andrew MacRitchie Casting by Nina Gold & Anne McCarthy Production Design by Allan Cameron Art Direction by Giles Masters & Tony Reading Set Decoration by Anna Pinnock Costume Design by Anna Sheppard Run Time 127 minutes Rated M15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2005 - Paramount Pictures - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2005 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services & The Movie Pages - All Rights Reserved