War is Hell--but this movie is no picnic, either.
"The Thin Red Line"
Overall Rating: *½
War is confusing--but war films don't have to be. Last summer's "Saving Private Ryan" is a good case in point--we see the chaos of battle, but the film makes sense. "A Thin Red Line" fails where "Saving Private Ryan" succeeded. One minute, the battle seems to be over, the next, they're fighting again--and the audience is left to wonder what happened. I'm not sure whether one of the characters was killed, taken prisoner, or went AWOL. The filmmakers don't even explain the title.
"The Thin Red Line" focuses on Guadalcanal. Guadalcanal would be an idyllic tropical paradise--except World War II finds its way there. In the movie, we see a private who only wants to get home to his bride; and a sergeant who sits on a grenade to save his men. We see Lt. Col. Tall (Nick Nolte)--a veteran in search of glory. We see Capt. Staros (Elias Koteas)--a fairly rational soldier in himself, but one who has to deal with Tall's desire for insane frontalassaults.
What we don't see is a movie that makes sense. In a big way, "The Thin Red Line" is a movie destroyed by editing. Much of the Guadalcanal story is apparently told in flashback--or not; it's not completely clear. Soldiers' thoughts drifting to home don't help matters, either. There are plenty of things on screen that are never explained: many actions of the native islanders are never explained, nor is an explanation offered for why some soldiers put cigarettes up their noses. Jerky, short cuts attempt to convey the confusion of battle, but are nothing more than an annoying cliche. The sound editing is not immune to problems; half the lines are almost or completely unintelligible. Some cutting might have helped: the movie's three hours feels more like three weeks.
Of course, what the editing hacked to bits didn't seem all that stellar to begin with. The script is pretty much uninspiring. In all the frequent soliloquies dwelling on what's wrong with war, there is only one moderately memorable line--something to the effect that "war is not ennobling, but rather that it makes men into dogs." Nor is there much about the acting to make it worthwhile. Most of the actors seem to blend in with each other; coupled with the editing, I found it hard to keep the characters straight. As for originality, "The Thin Red Line" seems lacking in that area too; the battle scenes (which make up the bulk of the film) feel like the first twenty minutes of "Saving Private Ryan;" as for the plot overall, based on the screenplay credit, I'd say that the film is a new adaptation of the novel rather than a remake of the 1964 version of the movie.
Unlike the majority of the actors, some are pretty good. Woody Harrelson--a heroic Sergeant--and John Travolta--the brigadier general who sends Lt. Col. Tall and his men into battle--are both good in their parts--though their cameo roles are limiting. Nick Nolte is the real star. He's wonderful as Lt. Col. Tall--the man who spent his army career being passed over for promotion and waiting for a war; he is driven, though he's close to insane. "The Thin Red Line" also does have some pretty spectacular special effects. If you really like battle scenes, it might almost be worth it to see this version of Guadalcanal. (Though, like most battle scenes in recent films, expect copious violence and profanity.)
In the end, most of the movie is both confusing and irritating. To be fair to both sides, the film has gotten what seems like numerous accolades from others--though I can't figure out why. However, I noticed at least a dozen people get up and walk out during the course of the film, and I was sorely tempted to join them. Are there good movies out there to see? Yup. As for "The Thin Red Line," that's what you should use to cross this one off your list.
Overall Rating: *½
War is confusing--but war films don't have to be. Last summer's "Saving Private Ryan" is a good case in point--we see the chaos of battle, but the film makes sense. "A Thin Red Line" fails where "Saving Private Ryan" succeeded. One minute, the battle seems to be over, the next, they're fighting again--and the audience is left to wonder what happened. I'm not sure whether one of the characters was killed, taken prisoner, or went AWOL. The filmmakers don't even explain the title.
"The Thin Red Line" focuses on Guadalcanal. Guadalcanal would be an idyllic tropical paradise--except World War II finds its way there. In the movie, we see a private who only wants to get home to his bride; and a sergeant who sits on a grenade to save his men. We see Lt. Col. Tall (Nick Nolte)--a veteran in search of glory. We see Capt. Staros (Elias Koteas)--a fairly rational soldier in himself, but one who has to deal with Tall's desire for insane frontalassaults.
What we don't see is a movie that makes sense. In a big way, "The Thin Red Line" is a movie destroyed by editing. Much of the Guadalcanal story is apparently told in flashback--or not; it's not completely clear. Soldiers' thoughts drifting to home don't help matters, either. There are plenty of things on screen that are never explained: many actions of the native islanders are never explained, nor is an explanation offered for why some soldiers put cigarettes up their noses. Jerky, short cuts attempt to convey the confusion of battle, but are nothing more than an annoying cliche. The sound editing is not immune to problems; half the lines are almost or completely unintelligible. Some cutting might have helped: the movie's three hours feels more like three weeks.
Of course, what the editing hacked to bits didn't seem all that stellar to begin with. The script is pretty much uninspiring. In all the frequent soliloquies dwelling on what's wrong with war, there is only one moderately memorable line--something to the effect that "war is not ennobling, but rather that it makes men into dogs." Nor is there much about the acting to make it worthwhile. Most of the actors seem to blend in with each other; coupled with the editing, I found it hard to keep the characters straight. As for originality, "The Thin Red Line" seems lacking in that area too; the battle scenes (which make up the bulk of the film) feel like the first twenty minutes of "Saving Private Ryan;" as for the plot overall, based on the screenplay credit, I'd say that the film is a new adaptation of the novel rather than a remake of the 1964 version of the movie.
Unlike the majority of the actors, some are pretty good. Woody Harrelson--a heroic Sergeant--and John Travolta--the brigadier general who sends Lt. Col. Tall and his men into battle--are both good in their parts--though their cameo roles are limiting. Nick Nolte is the real star. He's wonderful as Lt. Col. Tall--the man who spent his army career being passed over for promotion and waiting for a war; he is driven, though he's close to insane. "The Thin Red Line" also does have some pretty spectacular special effects. If you really like battle scenes, it might almost be worth it to see this version of Guadalcanal. (Though, like most battle scenes in recent films, expect copious violence and profanity.)
In the end, most of the movie is both confusing and irritating. To be fair to both sides, the film has gotten what seems like numerous accolades from others--though I can't figure out why. However, I noticed at least a dozen people get up and walk out during the course of the film, and I was sorely tempted to join them. Are there good movies out there to see? Yup. As for "The Thin Red Line," that's what you should use to cross this one off your list.
Title: "The Thin Red Line"
Release date: January 15, 1999
MPAA rating: R
Overall rating: *½
Overall rating: *½
Aprox. run time: 171 min.
Director: Terrence Malick
Writer: Terrence Malick, James Jones (novel)
Stars: Sean Penn (plays Pvt. Welch), James Caviezel, Nick Nolte
Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Mansion/7045/RedLine.htm
Added to blog site: 8/5/09
Director: Terrence Malick
Writer: Terrence Malick, James Jones (novel)
Stars: Sean Penn (plays Pvt. Welch), James Caviezel, Nick Nolte
Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Mansion/7045/RedLine.htm
Added to blog site: 8/5/09
Labels: Movie review, ReviewsbyJohn
posted by John at 1/17/1999 12:26:00 AM
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