The Caine Mutiny (1954)

This was a fairly controversial film in the 1950's because, as the film's disclaimer says at the start, this is fiction and there has never been a mutiny in the US Navy. It was more than slightly frowned upon to make a film that didn't show the military in the best light less than a decade removed from World War II.

The film starts with Ens. Willie Keith [Robert Francis] a young man fresh out of the academy preparing for his first real assignment. We get the sense that he is immature and does not make the best and most mature decisions. He favors his mother over the girl he really loves because she isn't in the same "class" and wouldn't meet mother's approval. He seems sure that he will get a job aboard a battleship, but to his dismay he gets assigned to the Caine. The Caine is a beat up ship that has seen a lot of action, the crew is informal and the captain is unorthodox which upsets Ens. Keith. When the captain is reassigned the navy brings in Lt. Commander Queeg [Humphrey Bogart], so our lead character really isn't on the screen for the first 20-30 minutes of the picture.

The immature Mr. Keith is immediately impressed by Queeg's desire to clean up the crew. Lt. Keefer [Fred MacMurray] is immediately against Queeg and convinces Lt. Maryk [Van Johnson] and Ens. Keith that action needs to be taken.

The film turns into a courtroom drama, and by seeing Ens. Keith mature, which is reflected in his personal life as he introduces his girlfriend to his mother and they get engaged. At the same time though, he is still siding with Keefer and Maryk against Queeg, and the film eventually turns into a courtroom drama. This is when José Ferrer is introduced and we get [I feel] the best performance in the film.

Good, not great, based on a book and play, I am glad I watched it. It was better than I was expecting.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046816/

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Catch-22 (1970)

One of the newest Must See war films I still needed to see, and in the closing week of Western/War month I thought I'd knock it out. I wish I would have known from the start that this was supposed to be a comedy, but I figured it out fast enough.

Alan Arkin stars as Capt. Yossarian, and is immediately stabbed in the back. I think I was supposed to realize that we then flash back for the rest of the story, but didn't realize until the end of the film. Martin Sheen and a number of other well known actors make up the cast of men in the unit. They are pilots who have flown a ridiculous number of missions and are looking for ways to get out. We find out that the only way out is to be considered mentally ill, but if you think you are mentally ill then you by definition can't be mentally ill. The "catch-22" becomes the theme of the film as we see through Capt. Yossarian's eyes as he snaps.

The film starts out kind of like MASH [from the same year], jokes like a man with the first name Major, which is too confusing for him to be a captain so they just make him a major. It is funny for a little while... but then Yossarian snaps. Thinks start to get stupid, the comedy becomes more of a bad dream and the jokes are complex and not funny. I could see this being better when it came out, but I just didn't like it at all.

Vote: 3/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065528/

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Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)

For the sake of catching up on reviews I'll keep this short. This film seemed like a good movie for a war buff. Someone that likes to know exactly what the politics were behind an attack. The exact sequence of events, the views from both sides.

The film is about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, it is in the brink of epic in run length with a two and a half hour run time including an intermission. The interesting thing is that there really isn't a "main" character. Many sides of the conflict are shown from pilot, to seaman, to commander-in-chief. It is slightly cruel to say that the film didn't have much "heart" or emotion, but I couldn't get into it. I felt like I was watching the history channel and was kinda bored.

Now, I will say that the "pre" intermission half of the film is for the film buffs, but the "post" intermission half is a recreation of the attack. It is quite exciting and action packed. The sequences are amazing at times, Michael Bay must have watched this film growing up because the explosions are almost constant.

It won an Oscar for best visual effects, I didn't love it, but it was much better than Pearl Harbor (2001).

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066473/

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Sergeant York (1941)

I'm not sure if you could call this film a biography, since I think you have to span the life of the subject to be a biography. This is the "story" of Alvin York, a decorated war hero from World War I. When York was approached about making his story into a film he insisted that the part be played by Gary Cooper. He was told that Cooper was too old, but he insisted that they make it work or not do it. It worked out well, because the film won two Oscars for editing, and Cooper won best actor.

The film starts in the backwoods of Tennessee where Alvin is a drunkard with an unsuccessful farm. In real life he was converted and saved by his wife, in the film he was struck by lightning... I guess that was more dramatic. He enlists in the draft but applies to be a conscientious objector, he is refused and sent to boot camp. They find out he is an excellent sharpshooter and put him in a Sergeant position training others. He pulls off some pretty amazing war exploits that I will reserve for you to see for yourself.

A really good war film, with a really good cast. Look at the date of release and you can guess that this definitely a pro-war film, so keep that in mind.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034167/

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Attack (1956)

Jack Palance is well known in Hollywood for playing a good villian. Throughout the 50's and 60's he played numerous roles as bad guys in western and war films. Interesting though that two of his most notable films he plays a hero [this one] and a good guy in a comedy [Curly in City Slickers].

What an emotional performance, Palance plays Lieutenant Joe Costa who sends men into battle with the agreement from Captain Cooney [Eddie Albert] that backup would be coming. When Cooney chickens out the entire team is mowed down by the Germans. The film is less of a battle between the Americans and Germans in World War II, and more of a battle between a good soldier and a crazy captain.

Not only is this a good war film, but it is finally a war film I was hoping to watch. Battles, heroes, gun fight, snipers, bad leaders, politics, etc. I've been getting melodrama and historical political breakdowns instead most of the month. This is what I wanted and I was very happy to get some good performances from Palance and Albert, if you want a good war classic that is under two hours you need to see this one.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048966/

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Mrs. Miniver (1942)

Nominated for 12 Oscars, winner of 6 including best picture. This war based film was credited by Winston Churchill as doing more for the war effort than a fleet of ships. The title character is played by Greer Garson who won the Oscar and set the record for the longest acceptance speech in Oscar history [5 1/2 minutes].

The film begins with Mrs. Miniver shopping for a hat and Mr. Miniver shopping for a new car. On the train home she sees the British military starting to take action and before you know it the war has started and her son has enlisted. The film is more about a typical family experience during wartime. Not about a soldier, but about a mother who has a husband volunteering for dangerous tasks, who has to hide with her terrified kids in a bomb shelter during a Nazi air raid, and who has to witness a lived one die.

The film is quite powerful, and the sermon by the priest makes it a propaganda film. The message is clearly that war, although difficult is necessary in the [then] current circumstances. Well acted story, I don't know if it would have been written and acted the same if it wasn't during World War II, it really captures the era well.

Last of all, it isn't an Oscar film people talk about. It isn't on the list of most deserving, nor is it on people's list of ones that didn't deserve the Oscar. I don't hear people talking at it as a "favorite," so if you are planning on watching all the Oscar winners you will find this one to be good, not great, but not difficult like many others from the pre-50's.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035093/

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Wings (1927)

The first year of the Academy Awards there were two separate categories for Best Picture. Best Production and Best Unique Production, where Best Production is more of a movie for the masses... a statistic that is basically captured by box office statistics nowadays and arguably has the reward of making the most money. Meanwhile the Best Unique production is considered the best acting, screenplay, etc. and you could say that the current "Best Picture" winner is not necessarily the favorite movie of the year.

Since the category has been terminated and a single best picture award was given the 2nd year of the Academy Awards, some think that this should not be considered the first Best Picture winner, while others think that this should share the distinguision with Sunrise. Now, since The Broadway Melody won the single award the following year, was a huge box office success, but did not win any acting, screenplay, or director awards I have to consider that the award still cared about box office in the 2nd year, therefore this is in fact the first best picture winner.

That being said I gave this and Sunrise both 7/10 ratings. If I had to pick which I liked better though, this one would win. It was actually a really entertaining silent film, and both films are the only Best Picture winners that were also silent. As a side note I liked The Crowd, a nominee up against Sunrise, better than both of these films.

It isn't typical for me to suggest a silent film, and won't suggest this one either. I do have to say though that this was a very exciting film. There were a number of dogfights, which is probably why it won a Best Effects Oscar, and the story and action worked well together. If it was 1929 right now I'm sure I would have loved this film. Considering what had some out at this point in cinema, this was a fantastic production and compelling storyline. If you are into silent era films, check this one out.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0018578/

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Tae Guk Gi - The Brotherhood of War: Taegukgi hwinalrimyeo (2004)

I started Western/War Movie Month off with a very popular film on the other side of the world. Part of the ilmdb modern 250 and winner of numerous awards in Asia, this epic war film has been compared to a Korean Saving Private Ryan. The production values, sound effects, and cinematography are fantastic, and the acting was pretty good as well.

The film centers itself around two brothers living near Seoul, Korea. One shines shoes with the dream of making his own some day. The other is a student, but both are very happy. They even have a overly cheesy scene were the who family goes on a picnic and the brothers share a Popsicle.

All of a sudden the government start rounding up men in basically an unannounced draft. When the older brother fights to not get his young brother drafted they are both shipped off. We start with both brothers fighting on the side of the South Koreans, after several battles it looks as if the South Koreans are going to win. Then the Chinese come in to support the North Koreans and the American come in the support the South Koreans and a war that looked like it was about to end gets stuck in a stalemate. We see the war from the prospective of the average Korean citizen, forces to fight for whichever side they live on regardless of what they think of democracy and communism. Forces to go to rallies to feel their families, but condemned for going to them at the same time.

A vicious cycle, and honestly exactly what I was looking for from a starting film to this themed month. 7/10 because it is a bit long, and not something I'd suggest, but I did like it.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386064/

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No Man's Land (2001)

Like Nowhere in African I watch this foreign Oscar winner while watching all Oscar winner for the last decade. I've seen in on several Top 100 foreign film lists as well as in the 1001 Movies to See Before You Die book. I understood the premise but I was fairly disappointed.

Several years ago I watched a film called Joyeux Noel, a foreign film based on true events were troops in the middle of the war met from both sides of enemy lines on Christmas. They spent the following day burying their dead before continuing the war. Very interesting. This film however lacked the dialogue and drama I was hoping for.

When new troops get lost in the fog they find themselves in the middle of the battle in the morning. Only one man survives the initial attack after they realize their horrible location. The other side sends several men to see if their are any survivors and the two men on the movie poster here end up stuck in the middle. They call in UN forces to diffuse the situation and the movie becomes very political.

I found this film to not be as "deep" as I had hoped the men didn't do more than say "you started the war!", "no, you started the war!" back and worth. Skip this one.

Vote: 5/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283509/

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The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)

An epic silent war film about World War I. I found this one on archive.org. It is in the National film Registry and also in the 501-Must See Movies, under action for some reason.

My review might contain spoilers, but I've found that spoilers on silent movies actually help me. I really don't like to know what a movie is about before seeing it, so that I both have an open mind and let the director lead me rather than a review. The problem is that silent movies are very difficult to follow, even when I watch them at double speed. If I have some sort of clue were it is going it helps a lot.

So this one starts with a Argentinian cattle baron who owns a lot of land and two daughters. One daughter marries a Frenchman, the other a German. When the old man dies his daughter's families split the inheritance and move to their respective countries. When World War I breaks out the two families end up pitted on opposite sides. As you would expect the German side is ruthless and the French side is the heroic side, this was made in the USA. So where does the title come from? Well there is a subplot of how this great war is the beginning of the apocalypse, and a mystic spells all this out before the battles.

I could see how this was a pretty cool film some 90 years ago. It was difficult to get through though, long and grainy, and I couldn't get into the story very much. It took me a number of days to wrap it up.

Vote: 4/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0012190/

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Black Book: Zwartboek (2006)

Another example of a "Modern IMDB Top 250" film that was worth checking out. Missing all awards considerations and overlooked internationally this was actually a really good World War II film.

The entire film takes place in Nazi occupied Netherlands. The central character, the blonde on the poster, Carice van Houten, is found working at a school in Israel by a friend after World War II. A friend runs into her and asks her how she made it through the war, and we then go to flashback of all the events she went through. Almost a Forrest Gump of war survivors, she is involved in some any different events. Becoming a spy, running from the Nazi's, hiding in a house in the woods, befriending a Nazi officer, it has everything.

It was refreshing to watch a foreign film that was not from the usual countries, directors, or set of stars. Outside the box on the typical World War II theme, with a good cast and plot.

This one is worth checking out.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389557/

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The Quiet American (2002)

One of the last two movies for me to finish the AFI's Annual Top Ten lists from 2000-2010. This one was nominated for an Oscar (which the AFI seems to be in line with a lot), for Michael Caine's performance in a leading role. It is no surprise to me that he lost to Adrien Brody for The Pianist.

The film costars Brendan Fraser, an actor I have trouble taking seriously most of the time. I'm not sure if it is the tone of his voice, but he always seems hokey to me and it wasn't until Extraordinary Measures that I thought much of him. Do Thi Hai Yen plays the girl in this love triangle, and is the one on the movie poster.

The film starts with Caine's character identifying Fraser's character's body at a morgue, then talking to the police. Based in Vietnam before the start of America's involvement, at the time when the Soviets are are at war. The film focuses on these two men, a reporter from America, and the other from Britain. Starting out as a romance, and ending as a war/conspiracy movie, I just didn't see this one hitting a very large viewing audience. Those interested in the political side are already dis-interested after the romance lingers. Those who are coming for a good love triangle romance aren't going to get a worthwhile conclusion as this plot takes a back seat as the film progresses.

It was a very forgettable film, with little excitement, and not much reason to remember it. Probably better to pass on this one.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258068/

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Brothers (2009)

This is the emotional war movie I expected The Messenger to be. A film that breaks your heart then drags you through a families misery. It is a difficult film to watch but some great acting from a young cast. Natalie Portman and Tobey Maguire are husband and wife. Just before heading back to Afghanistan, Maguire picks up his screw up brother [Jake Gyllenhaal] from prision where he has just been released on parole.

While Maguire is gone, Portman and Gyllenhaal become emotionally attached. Not necessarily in a sexual way, but he is there to fill a father role for the kids, and console her. I have to be vague and it is hard to go into detail about why I liked this film so much without spoiling it. It was nominated for two Golden Globes, but one was for a U2 song that played during the closing credits. So it basically had a single credible nomination for Tobey Maguire's performance.

Although difficult to watch, I really enjoyed it. Not a lighthearted film though.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765010/

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The Guns of Navarone (1961)

Since I got a jump start on horror month, I decided to diverge for a different type of thriller movie. The war movie thriller. Starring Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn, and David Niven and in a special operations mission to disable some radio controlled guns on the Greek island of Navarone.

The film is laid out well, the mission is discussed, the team is assembled and there is a solid two hours devoted to the execution of the mission. The plot is long and complicated, but easy to follow, and exciting at times. There is stuff that could have been trimmed, but at the same time they could have made this an epic three hour film. So all in all it was a good job editing it down to two and a half.

The rock climbing was cheesy because it was clear that were just laying down on a horizontal set. The rigging of the bombs was realistic and exciting, and it was a good war movie all around. I didn't just love it, but if you like war movies this one is pretty good. Another decent AFI 100 Thrills film.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054953/

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The Dirty Dozen (1967)

Lee Marvin stars as the badass Major who's peers dislike him enough to volunteer him for a suicide mission. The mission: Take 12 convicted felons into enemy territory and kill as many as possible. The major has no intentions of failing at his mission and works out a perfect plan. Can a bunch of convicts pull it off?

We get to watch him meet the men, train the men, play war games, and execute the mission in this film that rightfully makes the AFI Top 100 Thrills list. We learn that most of these men were in the wrong place at the wrong time and deserve a second chance. We also learn from the army psychiatrist that these are a bunch of disturbed men. So the audience has to like them, disturbed yet with redeeming qualities.

Ernest Borgnine plays the general that handed the major the assignment. Charles Bronson and Donald Sutherland are several of the dozen.

Likely an inspiration for Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, but then again The Inglorious Bastards (1978), an Italian movie could have been as well. Not the best edited action scenes, the grenades in the vents scene was just ok, and something I've seen on tv years ago when channel surfing. A very good film overall and well worth watching.

Vote: 9/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061578/

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Green Zone (2010)

Starring Matt Damon and directed by Paul Greengrass, I fully expected this to be an action flick along the lines of Jason Bourne films which these two worked on together. I was wrong, this is an Iraq War film, a war film, fictional and all about the lack of WMD's (Weapons of Mass Destruction).

Movies like this do nothing but upset me. They frustrate me because there is a lot of fact behind the lack of WMD's and the administration of the time's faults. I don't like rehashing it over and over again. I can understand why this wasn't a blockbuster, people just don't want to be reminded again and again how we are to blame for something we couldn't control, stop, and didn't agree with.

It was a fairly well put together movie, and had some very exciting scenes. There was so real tension at the end, but I didn't care. I don't like to escape reality to something so realistic. Watch it if you are a big Damon fan, if not pass.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947810/

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The Big Parade (1925)

Oh... so this has nothing to do with a parade... The title definitely made me overlook watching this film for a while. At over two hours a silent movie isn't appealing in the first place, but I am happy I finally watched it.

A film starring John Gilbert how acted in almost 100 silent films, and co-starring Renée Adorée a French born actress who got her break in this movie only to die of tuberculosis at the age of 35.

The plot of the film is that James Apperson [Gilbert], son of a rich businessman enlists and is shipped to France. He falls in love with Melisande [Adoree] but when his troop is called to the front line they are separated.

Just another example of a quality American silent film. Easy to follow subtitles, good pace for a silent film, and some really gripping war scenes for a silent movie, pretty good but I'm not watching it again.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0015624/

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The Killing Fields (1984)

Honestly the title of this film really threw me off. Not sure how to put this in words, but I really had it in my head this this was going to be a gory war film. It is actually heroic story about a man's struggle to escape a brutal dictator.

Much like Full Metal Jacket, this film really has a distinct split. The first part is about the rebel uprising and the actions that lead to captivity. The second part is about the escape from this captivity.

Sam Waterston (a very familiar face from "Law & Order"), John Malkovich, and our hero Haing S. Ngor are the three main characters of this film. There are some very tense moments and exciting ones as well. Good for a war film, and not really what I expected either.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087553/

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The Hurt Locker (2009)

This film is about a bomb squad in Iraq, and as you can guess from the movie poster, not every mission goes well. The film centers around three characters who are about a month from finishing their tour. Jeremy Renner plays the reckless Staff Sargent and his team includes Brian Geraghty and Anthony Mackie. With not major stars you are in the same position as the soldiers because you don't know when and if they will be blown up.

The reason this film is so highly acclaimed is that the action is not forced. There has been a trend in film to shake the camera and disorient the audience to excite them. All of the action here is based on the soldiers fear, which mostly comes from their reckless leader. Renner is amazing in this film and for someone that I've seen in a number of films now this is the only one I consider memorable to date.

This was not as good as Up in the Air though, why? It just doesn't fit this year. America is focused on the problems at home and doesn't want to think about the war that we all know now was a mistake [or always did...]. I would love to see Kathryn Bigelow and Jeremy Renner bring home some awards for this film, if you see two films this year see this one.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887912/

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Inglourious Basterds (2009)

It is very clear to me that Quentin Tarantino works on a completely different level than most directors of our time [e.g. Michael Bay]. 50 years from now some of his films will still be revered by critics. He has a very unique editing style where he mixes animated title freezes with interesting audio and a number of film school techniques that would show how little I really know about film if I tried to convey them here.

This is a films about a fictional group of American soldiers called "The Basterds." Brad Pitt once again proves he is pretty good at comedy following up a good performance in Burn After Reading. Everybody seems to want to work with Tarantino because B.J. Novak (Ryan from "The Office") and Zachary Quinto (Sylar from "Heroes" and Spock from Star Trek) along with a wide cast of familiar faces are in this film.

One of the most notable performances came from Christoph Waltz (as Col. Hans Landa or "The Jew Hunter") for which I expect an Oscar Nomination and of course Diane Kruger as Bridget von Hammersmark which are just a few of the memorable performances.

This was not my favorite film however, it was very long and very gory, the long part being Tarantino's style like Kill Bill and Grindhouse. I almost rate Tarantino against his other works rather than all of the films I see in general, but with this one I struggled to say I would suggest it to everyone. Just be prepared to want to look away from the screen more than a few times.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361748/

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