For some reason, Tom Hardy’s first Hollywood roles were war stories. You may remember young Hardy on HBO’s “Band of Brothers,” which was as difficult as his next gig, Ridley Scott’s “Black Hawk Down.” Taking on a private role in Easy Company for its HBO television debut was of course not easy, as Hardy didn’t have much experience in front of the camera and faced immense pressure to prove himself. The same can be said about his film debut, as Hardy’s character was also based on a real Army Ranger who was always traumatized by the battle of Mogadishu. Before the actor got his big break in “Star Trek: Nemesis,” Hardy had already appeared in another war film that also starred some very big names (but weren’t very well known at the time). I’m talking about Hardy’s completely forgotten first film, “The Trench.”
1999’s “The Trench” isn’t an atrocious film, but it was certainly treated as one. For starters, there aren’t enough reviews on Rotten Tomatoes to receive an overall rating, and its limited theatrical release certainly didn’t help matters. It was also the debut film of novelist William Boyd, which, combined with the film’s dark subject matter, contributed to its neglected status. Looking back, “The Trench” has a rich cast, with Daniel Craig, Cillian Murphy and Ben Whishaw (!) being part of the ensemble. Unfortunately, none of these actors were big names in 1999, as all three began to achieve mainstream success after the early 2000s.
Hardy’s role as a background soldier is uncredited – it’s a cameo appearance that doesn’t contribute to the story in any meaningful way. With that in mind, let’s talk about “The Trench” and see if it has anything interesting to offer.
The Trench is not a masterpiece, but it is better than one might expect
Boyd’s “The Trench” provides a poignant snapshot of the 48 hours leading up to the Battle of the Somme. The story opens with a young Billy (Paul Nicholls), who must face the inevitable countdown to his death alone after his injured brother is sent home. He is surrounded by a wide range of colorful characters, including experienced sergeant Telford Winter (Craig), nervous recruit Rookwood (Murphy) and gentle soldier James Deamis (Whishaw). There’s also Tommy (James D’Arcy), who is constantly suspicious of his superiors, who think going all-out on the battlefield is good strategy. Together, these characters make quite an impression, contributing to the tragedy that befalls everyone later when they literally find themselves in the trenches.
Craig clearly stands out here, but you can already glimpse exceptional potential in Murphy’s performance, alongside a young Whishaw in his debut role. Nicholls and the others are also pretty good, but don’t get the chance to do more than their thematic archetypes promise. If you’re curious about these intriguing early performances, then “The Trench” is worth your time. That said, this isn’t one of those amazing war films that has anything new to say, even if the story is serviceable enough to be compelling. The tension in the story lies in the long wait before the violent inevitability of war, as well as the anxieties that accompany it. Every dream is brutally crushed as the film reaches its climax.
In terms of tone, Boyd’s vision is realistic and authentic, and a lot is accomplished on a limited budget, making “The Trench” a decent genre film with excellent performances.
“The Trench” is available on Prime Video.
