Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Founder | Kriv Stenders (director) |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | War film |
Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan is a 2019 Australian war film that portrays the events of the Battle of Long Tan during the Vietnam War. The movie is directed by Kriv Stenders and features Travis Fimmel in a leading role.
Plot
The story opens with a mortar barrage targeting the 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) base at Nui Dat, launched by the Viet Cong (VC) and People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN). Major Harry Smith maintains his composure, instructing soldiers to seek cover while some underestimate the danger. The base responds with counter-battery fire, successfully neutralizing the enemy mortar team.
Following this, Major Smith volunteers his unit, Delta Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR), to conduct a reconnaissance mission at the nearby rubber plantation in Long Tân. Meanwhile, Bravo Company is assigned to identify enemy mortar locations and potential withdrawal routes but finds no hostile presence.
The subsequent day sees Delta Company relieving Bravo and tracking fresh signs from the mortar attacks. Leading with 11 Platoon, they encounter a small VC patrol before coming under intense assault, prompting calls for artillery strikes dangerously close to their position. With 12 Platoon providing reinforcement, they become isolated and face the threat of being overwhelmed.
At Nui Dat, Brigadier Oliver David Jackson hesitates to deploy reinforcements and orders a retreat. Major Smith defies this directive, insisting on supporting 11 Platoon, which forces Jackson to send armored personnel carriers (APCs), consequently exposing the base’s defenses. As ammunition dwindles amid heavy monsoon rains, Smith requests helicopter resupply. Group Captain Peter Raw from the RAAF initially expresses concerns about the perilous landing zone; however, two RAAF Iroquois pilots volunteer to deliver supplies under intense enemy fire.
Despite being resupplied but still outnumbered, Major Smith arranges a defensive stand until M113 APCs and infantry from Nui Dat arrive, compelling the PAVN forces to retreat. During the battle, Private Large suffers fatal wounds. The film concludes with a casualty roll call and Major Smith bidding farewell to Large’s body as it is airlifted away.
Cast
- Travis Fimmel as Major Harry Smith
- Daniel Webber as Private Paul Large
- Luke Bracey as Sergeant Bob Buick
- Richard Roxburgh as Brigadier David Jackson
- Nicholas Hamilton as Private Noel Grimes
- Matt Doran as Major Noel Ford
- Lasarus Ratuere as Corporal Buddy Lea
- Stephen Peacocke as Lieutenant Adrian Roberts
- Myles Pollard as Flight Lieutenant Frank Riley
- Uli Latukefu as Bombardier Ray Ngatai
- Anthony Hayes as Lieutenant Colonel Colin Townsend
- Sam Parsonson as Lieutenant David Sabben
- Alexander England as Warrant Officer Class Two Jack Kirby
- Sean Lynch as Sergeant Paddy Todd
- Aaron Glenane as Captain Morrie Stanley
- Emmy Dougall as Little Pattie
- Mojean Aria as Second Lieutenant Gordon Sharp
- Travis Jeffrey as Second Lieutenant Geoff Kendal
- Tom Yaxley as Sergeant Neil Rankin
- Sam Cotton as Corporal Phil 'Doc' Dobson
- Lincoln Lewis as Private Kevin Graham
- Ben Esler as Gunner Ken Deacon
- Jullian Cullen as Private Frank Topp
Production
The film's production commenced in 2018, following the completion of the screenplay in June 2014. Principal photography took place between May and July 2018 at Village Roadshow Studios located in Queensland, with additional filming conducted across various sites including Pimpama, Kingaroy, and Nerang.
Casting
On 28 February 2018, it was revealed that Travis Fimmel would headline the cast as Major Harry Smith. Fimmel reflected on the role as carrying "a significant responsibility." The casting process aimed to fill 30 main roles alongside recruiting between 100 and 200 Australian extras, specifically seeking veterans who had served in combat zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
Reception
According to the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, of the critics surveyed gave favorable reviews based on a total of critiques, resulting in an average score of . The platform’s summary notes: "Danger Close may present challenges as a historical reference but delivers an engaging portrayal of frontline life during an authentic conflict."
The Sydney Morning Herald commended director Kriv Stenders for effectively rendering the realities of the day in a manner that captivates audiences unfamiliar with military experiences.
Flicks Australia characterized the film as a "patriotic yet contentious" war drama that minimizes the wider imperialistic backdrop, framing the battle as a confrontation between overwhelming "Asiatic enemy hordes" and a morally assured ANZAC contingent, evoking comparisons to the propagandistic tone of the 1968 film The Green Berets.
Travis Johnson, writing for The Curb, observed the film’s deliberate focus on ground-level perspectives and its conscious avoidance of uncritical patriotism in depicting an "unjust war," praising its skillful navigation of historical accuracy, narrative tension, and political nuance, thereby cementing its status within Australian war cinema.
Harry Windsor from The Hollywood Reporter described the movie as "familiar and unfocused," citing shallow character development and an insensitive celebratory tone, though he acknowledged the restrained use of digital effects as a positive element.
ScreenDaily expressed criticism regarding the film’s limited tonal range when tackling a contentious war, viewing this narrow approach as a drawback.
Accolades
| Award | Category | Nominee | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| AACTA Awards (9th) |
Best Cinematography | Ben Nott | Template:Nom |
| Best Original Music Score | Caitlin Yeo | Template:Nom | |
| Best Sound | Liam Egan | Template:Won |
External links
- Articles with short description
- 2010s English-language films
- 2010s war films
- 2019 films
- Australian films based on actual events
- Australian war films
- English-language war films
- Films directed by Kriv Stenders
- Films scored by Caitlin Yeo
- Films set in 1966
- Films shot at Village Roadshow Studios
- Films with screenplays by Stuart Beattie
- Screen Australia films
- Vietnam War films based on actual events
- Vietnam War films