Tag: War

“Lions for Lambs” (2007) starring Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, & Tom Cruise

EmmaLeave a comment

Injuries sustained by two Army rangers behind enemy lines in Afghanistan set off a sequence of events involving a senator, a journalist and a professor. -Synopsis

This out-of-the box film (directed by Robert Redford, who passed away recently at age 89) consists of 3 separate (yet interconnected) segments. The time is our (recent) past, Dubya is the prez, and there is (seemingly unending) war in the Middle East. Many viewers were most interested in the interview between the experienced political journo, Janine Roth (Meryl Streep), and a youthful Republican politician, Sen. Jasper Irving (Tom Cruise). They discuss foreign-policy in a war of choice, now running longer than WWII. The senator (a military adviser to the prez) is trying to convince Janine into “selling” a new plan of attack in Afghanistan. In a SoCal university, Prof. Stephen Malley (Redford), a Poly Sci prof has a meeting w/ a bright (yet recently slacking) student, Todd Hayes (Andrew Garfield).

Sen. Jasper Irving: [to Janine] In sense we’re both on the same team. We’re teammates. We’re both have a responsibility. You’ve already sold the war. Now I’m asking you to help me sell the solution.

The film is short and stays mostly to the point of a debate weighing the pros and cons of war, terrorism, and freedom. The photo on the senator’s office wall (Cruise dressed as a West Point cadet) is a still photo from Taps (1981). Alternating w/ the other segments are scenes in Afghanistan featuring two Army rangers, Arian Finch (Derek Luke) and his BFF, Ernest Rodriguez (Michael Peña). They’re POC and recent college grads who chose to enlist. What lives are most at risk in times of war? It’s the youth, esp. men of color and/or those living in poverty, as Prof. Malley explains to Todd (white, raised w/ privilege, and from an upper-middle class neighborhood). Check it out (on Amazon Prime video) if you’re looking for something different.

Prof. Stephen Malley: The decisions you make now, bud, can’t be changed but with years and years of hard work to redo it… And in those years you become something different. Everybody does as the time passes. You get married, you get into debt… But you’re never gonna be the same person you are right now. And promise and potential… It’s very fickle, and it just might not be there anymore.
Todd Hayes: Are you assuming I already made a decision? And also that I’ll live to regret it?
Prof. Stephen Malley: All I’m saying is that you’re an adult now… And the tough thing about adulthood is that it starts before you even know it starts, when you’re already a dozen decisions into it. But what you need to know, Todd, no lifeguard is watching anymore. You’re on your own. You’re your own man, and the decisions you make now are yours and yours alone from here until the end.

[1] It is not a perfect film in some regards, but it is not preaching but rather challenging all viewers, no matter what you think, to get involved, to take part, to question things, to think for one’s self. It is thought-provoking and challenging and for that it is well worth seeing for yourself.

[2] …the movie is not about a heroic battle or an indelible mistake by a over zealous, self absorbed government. It is about understanding a mindset. If any of you have ever read Francis Fukuyama… its about history repeating itself.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Close-Up on Civil Wars: “Ride with the Devil” (1999) & “The Wind That Shakes The Barley” (2006)

EmmaLeave a comment

Ride with the Devil (1999) starring Skeet Ulrich, Tobey Maguire, Jewel, & Jeffrey Wright

On the Western frontier of Missouri, the American Civil War was fought not by armies, but by neighbors. Informal gangs of local Southern Bushwhackers fought a bloody and desperate guerrilla war against the occupying Union army and pro-Union Jayhawkers. Allegiance to either side was dangerous. But it was more dangerous still to find oneself caught in the middle... -Prologue

Jake [after reading a letter to a Union soldier]: One mother’s very much like another.

Pitt Mackeson: Remember one thing, her boys will kill you if they can.

Jake Roedel (Tobey Maguire) and Jack Bull Chiles (Skeet Ulrich) are best friends/neighbors in rural Missouri when the American Civil War starts. Jake lives w/ his German/immigrant father, who feels their ppl should have nothing to do w/ this war. After his older sister’s wedding, Jack Bull’s father is murdered by Union soldiers, who were also looking for him! Jack Bull (more the leader of the pair) and Jake (the follower) run away from home that same night. One year goes by; the young men have joined the Bushwhackers (loyal to the Confederacy); they ride w/ Black John (Jim Caviezel) and infiltrate enemy territory (disguising themselves as Union soldiers in blue uniforms). As one critic said: “This is guerrilla warfare- or terrorist tactics- depending on one’s viewpoint.”

Y’all prolly haven’t heard of this movie, unless (like me) you’re into history or fan of Taiwanese-American director Ang Lee (Sense & Sensibility; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). The screenplay is by James Schamus; it is based on the novel Woe to Live On by Daniel Woodrell. Lee (who attended NYU film school w/ Spike Lee) is an immigrant to the US; he makes unexpected choices here (which brings depth/richness to what could’ve been a simple war story). You’ll get a kick out of seeing young/international actors (NOT yet famous): Mark Ruffalo, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Simon Baker, Jeffrey Wright, Jewel, and Jonathan Brandis.

I remember on the set you [Ang Lee] kept repeating: I don’t wanna make a white man’s movie, I don’t wanna make a white man’s movie. -Jeffery Wright, actor

Jake (called “Dutchie” as an insult) is an outsider among the men at the Bushwhacker camp; long-haired/wild-eyed Pitt Mackeson (Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers) antagonizes him whenever they meet. Jake wants to prove himself as an American; unlike most of his peers he can read/write. I learned re: the division btwn (native-born) Americans and German immigrants (who settled in the Midwest in large numbers in the mid-1800s). Perhaps the most interesting character is Daniel Holt (Jeffrey Wright- from DC; then known for theater work), a Black man recently freed by his master, George Clyde (Aussie actor Simon Baker). George is a quiet observer (until the 2nd half of the movie) and an expert marksman. Wright commented that the ensemble cast “all got to be pretty good w/ horses.”

[1] Lee handles the subject with aplomb, never rushing the deep introspection that the plot demands in favour of action and this lends the film a sense of the reality of war – long periods of boredom and waiting interposed with occasional flashes of intensely terrifying fighting. The action is unglamorised and admirably candid, recognizing that both sides committed a great number of atrocities.

[2]  What is beautiful about the movie, like all of Lee’s films, is that he doesn’t “side” with his characters. He creates characters, embodies them with life, problems, and ambiguity… and endows them with a reality that often hits far closer to home than with which many are comfortable.

But as an exploration of the greater human ambiguity that surely dwelt within the Civil War, it is a masterpiece.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) starring Cillian Murphy, Liam Cunningham, & Padraig Delaney

Against the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence, two brothers fight a guerrilla war against British forces. -Synopsis

In the early 1920s, rural Ireland is a battlefield of republicans fighting British security forces. Med school grad, Damien O’Donovan (Cillian Murphy), is the pride of his village; he is planning to train at a London hospital. On the day when he’s about to leave, he witnesses the brutal abuse of commoners at the railroad station. Damien pledges loyalty to the local IRA brigade, commanded by his older brother, Teddy (Padraig Delaney- in his 1st film). In the 2nd half of the movie, we learn that IRA leaders negotiated a Free State (yet still under British crown). Teddy and Damien have V different reactions!

I saw this film several yrs ago, BUT didn’t do an in-depth review; I recall being impressed, as I was on re-watch! The British director (Ken Loach) is known for Socialist realism; he often focuses on the working class/ordinary ppl. Most of the actors come from County Cork (where the story is set). Fans of Game of Thrones will get a kick out of seeing Liam Cunningham (whose character sees things from a Socialist lens). In the past yr, you may’ve noticed Cunningham speaking re: a free Palestinian state. Last month, I came across a news clip w/ screenwriter (Paul Lafferty); he’d been released from jail after protesting in London (in support of Palestinians). Yup, these filmmakers are real ones!

The young rebels are lean, proud, and V determined; they hunger for respect, freedom, and opportunity denied them on their native land. Early in the film, a teen boy is beaten to death by British soldiers after refusing to speak English (instead replying in Gaelic). You will see the (guerrilla) tactics used by the IRA, though the violence is brief (and NOT glamorized). As some viewers commented, there is NOT much blood shown; this was to protect the (fragile/period) costumes on a small budget. Damien wisely comments that Britain will never give Ireland freedom, b/c that will open the door for colonies- India and some African nations. This film (told on a small scale/intimate in nature) makes history come alive!

[1] The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a film that doesn’t shy away from the unrelenting terror and bloodshed of the revolution. The working-class accents and dialects are authentically preserved, with constant debate and war never ceasing. The film raises an important question about whether the Irish Revolution was a socialist or nationalist one.

[2] The film consists of two parts. Part 1 is about violence on the side of the English occupier, Part 2 is about Irish disunity.

The English violence in the movie did cause some discomfort at the time of release. We are accustomed to war crimes perpetrated by Germans, but the English? It should, however, not be forgotten that the English used WWI veterans in the Irish war of independence. Particularly the “Black and tans” were notorious.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

20th Anniversary: “Pride & Prejudice” & “Star Wars: Episode III – The Revenge of the Sith”

EmmaLeave a comment

Recently, there were special events (incl. re-releases) centered on 2 much loved (and much-maligned) blockbuster movies from my mid-20s- Pride and Prejudice (P&P) and Star Wars: Episode III – The Revenge of the Sith (TRS). Nostalgia is a big thing these days, esp. among those who are Xennials (b. 1977-1983) and Millennials (b. 1981-1996). Were you a fan (or hater) of P&P and/or TRS upon 1st release? Have you re-watched these movies? Have your opinions changed? Let me know your thoughts (in comments below)!

P&P (which boasted a cast of soon-to-be famous/cute/young faces) is an important film to my fam: we watched it in the theater over Thanksgiving 2005 (w/ my future BIL)! On a recent re-watch, I realized that it’s still a fun/well-made movie, though NOT accurate to Jane Austen’s book (as many have said in past). The young/British director, Joe Wright, had a fresh/controversial take on the Bennett fam (incl. their farm-style home, hairstyles, clothes, and-perhaps a BIT too quirky- personalities). I was (again) impressed by ALL the British character actors. When it came to casting, Rosamund Pike (who studied Austen in college) fitted the role of Jane perfectly. The best things about this adaptation are its music (composed by Dario Marinelli) and Matthew McFadyen. The tall/theatrically-trained actor conveys Mr. Darcy’s (unspoken) shyness, sadness (he lost parents when young), and vulnerability. And when Darcy (a socially awkward hero) finally smiles- wow, he wins over the audience!

In the climax of TRS, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen)- in Sith mode- declares to his Jedi mentor/BFF, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor): “If you’re not with me, then you’re my enemy!” For the “olds” (like me), this may remind you of former prez. (Dubya’s) words after 9/11: “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” Is the acting good? Well, it’s a mixed bag; Chancellor/Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) is compelling/effective in his scenes. The film’s most important element is Anakin’s seduction to the Dark Side of the Force by Palpatine. One reviewer on IMDb said: “He is the lifeblood of the film.” Is the writing good? Well, it’s still basic (as w/ the 2 earlier prequels). Is the directing (by Lucas himself) effective? This is tough to judge, but Star Wars fans know Lucas is infamous for NOT saying much to help along the performance of his actors. There are times when I cringed, wondering why he didn’t give the actors another take of a scene. The first 20 mins. (mainly action) are quite exciting, as are the final 30 mins. (incl. the battle btwn. Anakin and Obi-Wan). The music (composed by John Williams) continues to be impressive, as you’d expect. Hey, I still got a BIT emotional at the end- I’m NOT immune to nostalgia!

“The Messenger” (2009) starring Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, & Samantha Morton

EmmaLeave a comment

An American soldier struggles with an ethical dilemma when he becomes involved with a widow of a fallen officer. -Synopsis

While deployed in Iraq, US Army Staff Sgt. Will Montgomery (Ben Foster- aged 28) was injured by an IED. He’s back on base (Fort Dix, NJ was a shooting location) recovering from injuries to an eye and leg. Will reconnects w/ HS sweetheart, Kelly (Jena Malone). With just 3 mos. left in his enlistment (typically for 5 yrs), Will is assigned to the Casualty Notification Team. Not having a background in grief counseling, he’s unsure IF he can fulfill this role. He’s partnered w/ a career military man, Capt. Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson), who tells Will re: the strict protocols to be followed. Tony (who never saw much combat) warns Will that this job has its own dangers. The next-of-kin (NOK) who Will and Tony visit come from different social classes and races (reflecting today’s Armed forces). One day, Will meets a single mom, Olivia Pitterson (Samantha Morton- who is British); her reaction to her husband’s death is unusually calm.

This indie drama/romance (streaming for free) was the debut of director Oren Moverman (who is Israeli). It received 2 Oscar noms in 2010: Best Supporting Actor for Harrelson and Best Screenplay for Moverman and Alessandro Camon (who is Italian). Sgt. Brian Scott, who was training to deploy to Iraq out of Fort Dix, was a Technical Advisor on this film; he was later injured in Baghdad. At various stages in development, Sydney Pollack, Roger Michel, and Ben Affleck (who all receive “special thanks” in the credits) were attached to direct; Moverman was finally asked to helm the project after other options fell through. Fans of Succession (HBO) will get a kick out of seeing young Jeremy Strong (30 y.o.) Merritt Weaver (known as an NYC theater actress; seen in Marriage Story) has a small role, too.

There is little that is political here; “it’s about empathy for the soldiers and their loved ones” (Foster said in press interviews). A friendship slowly develops btwn Will and Tony, who says the military is a place where many go “looking for family.” According to the Army, a physical relationship btwn a Casualty Notification Officer (CNO) and NOK (ex: a widow) is NOT allowed. Will and Olivia move around ea. other tentatively and speak carefully. A moving/emotional scene in Olivia’s kitchen goes on for 8 mins (done in one take). Moverman allowed actors to improvise in certain scenes. I was impressed by the dialogue and naturalistic acting. Foster (who had a slighter build then) shows that wearing a uniform doesn’t mean one can stifle their feelings.

[1] Brilliantly acted film… It’s emotional and engaging and genuinely painful at times.

[2] Every scene is handled marvelously through subtle performances by the actors. As the film unfolds, the viewer sinks into the complex characters on screen, discomforted by the internal struggles that slowly surface.

[3] The film is, in a word, compassionate, as it is almost entirely character-driven. The chemistry between Foster and Harrelson is incredible…

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Until They Sail” (1957) starring Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Paul Newman, & Piper Laurie

EmmaLeave a comment

The genuine tugs at the heart are few and far between in this bittersweet but basically restrained chronicle. Robert Anderson’s adaptation… is honest and straightforward… Unfortunately there is a good deal of introspective soul-searching before this narrative arrives at its sad and happy endings. -Bosley Crowther (New York Times)

The film opens in a Christchurch, New Zealand courtroom, where testimony prompts Barbara Leslie (Jean Simmons) to flashback to the events that led to the trial. In 1939, Barbara and her sisters: Anne (Joan Fontaine), Delia (Piper Laurie), and Evelyn (Sandra Dee- just 14) live in a cottage in Christchurch. Most of the men, incl. their brother Kit and Barbara’s new husband Mark, are preparing to leave for WWII. Some time later, Delia announces her engagement to Phil “Shiner” Friskett (Wally Cassell); he is one of the city’s few remaining bachelors, though word of Kit’s death dampens the mood. Anne disapproves of the marriage, but Barbara defends Delia’s decision. Shiner is eventually drafted for war; Delia moves to Wellington to work for the navy. In 1942, several hundred U.S. Marines are shipped to New Zealand.

The film has moments of genuine tenderness and truth. -William K. Zinsser (New York Herald Tribune)

The screenplay was by Robert Anderson, based on a story by James A. Michener included in his 1951 anthology Return to Paradise. As fans of classics know, there are limits (and conventions) to the Hollywood studio system. The 1st thing you’ll need to ignore are the (wildly varied) accents of the sisters; we learn that Anne and Barbara attended school in England. The hairstyles and clothing worn by the women reflect the mid-1950s, NOT the early ’40s. There are a few scenes that come off as TOO melodramatic; others can drag on a BIT too long. However, the look of the film is lovely; it was shot in Cinemascope (or extra widescreen). The musical score by David Raksin suits the events V well.

This [pulls out a bottle of whiskey from glove compartment] is what I spend the night with… and no regrets. Oh, I get a gentlemanly hangover in the morning, but no regrets. And nobody gets hurt. -Jack explains to Barbara

U.S. servicemen married over 15,000 Australian and New Zealanders they met while stationed overseas in WWII. The War Brides Act of December 1945 required only proof of marriage to ensure legal migration to the US. Some modern sources est. the total war bride migration was one of the largest migrations to the country since the 1920s. Paul Newman (before fame; 3rd billed) accepted a supporting role only b/c Robert Wise was directing. I heard about this movie (via a Facebook post); I’d recommend it esp. to fans of Newman and Simmons. You can rent it on VOD; I saw it last week.

Newman plays Capt. Jack Harding, an alcohol-dependent/cynical/divorced Marine investigating prospective brides of soldiers. From the choices that Newman makes, you can see that acting is becoming more subtle in this time. As Barbara, Simmons is caring and empathetic to her sisters; she’s trying to live a “decent” life. One astute viewer noted that modern viewers (who’ve recently lived through the COVID-19 pandemic) may esp. relate to the loneliness experienced by the sisters in this movie. As Barbara tells Jack when they reconnect, her countrymen have been gone 3 yrs so far (1939-1942). I esp. liked how their connection grew (so it seems gradual/natural- NOT rushed); Newman and Simmons project intense chemistry!

[1] Not the best role of any of the principal actors’ careers, but definitely worth seeing, especially if you are drawn to WWII era dramas.

[2] Jean Simmons… is the counterpart for Paul Newman, who is the point man for the American presence (and the introduction to American men). […]

…even if this movie seems to follow some ordinary romantic path, you can’t help but feel, individually, for the four women wanting to not be alone. (It has some echo of “Little Women,” to me.) That’s the reason to hang in there. It takes time to get invested in the characters and their needs. Paul Newman is very good as usual, but more restrained than you might expect. Handsome, but without some kind of edge that made him bigger than life.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews