Two Men Went to War (2004)

The true(?) story of two British army dentists who took it upon themselves to personally invade WWII France in 1942, Two Men Went to War is a delightfully light-hearted film that will put a smile on your face, and at the same time, make you think a bit.

When Private Leslie Cuthbertson (Leo Bill) gets an itching for a bit more "active" duty than simply working on soldiers' canines, veteran Sgt. Peter King (Kenneth Cranham) takes notice, and decides to take Cuthbertson on a mission of glory into France.

Of course, neither of them have any real combat experience. In tongue-in-cheek British fashion they matter-of-factly head out on their mission. Before they do so, King writes a letter to Winston Churchill outlining their attack, and encloses their paybooks as proof of their dedication to the cause.

The remainder of the picture has the two getting into jam after jam, and luckily getting out of them. From trying to "borrow" a fishing boat at high tide, to (unknowingly) sabotaging a German train checkpoint.... Their blissful ignorance is what drives the story.

At the same time, their letter continues to elude the attention of Churchill, being placed under more paperwork time and time again, until finally (and just in the nick of time) his staff comes to their rescue at their court martial.

If you're looking for an action-packed serious look at what drives men during war, well, you're definitely looking in the wrong place. You'll have to be a fan of the so-subtle and non-slapstick variety of British humor to really enjoy the movie. Sgt. King (Cranham) is the ultimate deadpan, and while Cuthbertson really isn't much more animated, the chemistry between them is incredibly funny. The look on King's face as he sits in dismay after the high-tide attempted boat heist, while Cuthbertson waits with that "what now?" look... is just perfect.

That "deadpan" plays out through the rest of the film, and at the same time King's increasing "sadness" at his situation pulls through. Such as when he discovers Cuthbertson locking lips with a French woman, and you can at the same time feel his jealousy, and his dismay that it wasn't him....

But more seriously, what you've got here is two men, one nearing the end of his career, and one just getting started, who realize that their mission in life isn't all its cracked up to be. The aim of having that one "heroic" and memorable event in their life, that we all get at one point or another, is what's at stake. Fortunately, they live to tell their tale.

Also keep an eye out for some familiar British acting faces, such as Julian Glover, Derek Jacobi, and Phyllida Law.

The soundtrack to the film is equally cozy, featuring mostly contemporary (to WWII) light-hearted popular tunes.

Flaws? Oh, I'm sure there are plenty, but if you're looking for them, you're really missing the point. Two Men Went to War is a funny journey into an aspect of human nature that drives us all, the need for some sort of "adventure" in our lives.

Two Men Went to War (2004) on Spout.com

Originally posted on:War Movie Reviews and News

The Big Red One: The Reconstruction (1980/2004)

When I originally reviewed The Big Red One, the original version, I found it to be lacking something in many respects. I dunno, it just seemed to be missing something.

Then I heard about the "Reconstruction" of The Big Red One, an attempt to rebuild director Samuel Fuller's original vision of the film. I have to say, I have a much better respect for this movie now that its more-or-less "complete."

With an additional hour or so of footage recovered from the Warner and Lorimar archives, and painstakingly cleaned up and re-edited back into the movie, it takes on a much more cohesive tone.

Additionally, the editors went back and did a lot of sound work, which honestly I didn't even notice until I watched the "Making of" feature on the second disc of the set. That's a compliment! The work they did rebuilding these lost scenes and re-working the audio and soundtrack to make them fit in seamlessly was just amazing.

The recovered scenes flesh out a lot of the characters in more detail, which was one of my gripes about the 'original' version. In particular was Hamill's character, Griff. His internal conflict was really brought out more. Marvin's "Nameless Sarge" character also takes on a bit more detail, as we really see his weariness of war, and his overall compassion in scenes that should have been there.

Then there is the contrast of the German who follows them from North Africa, all the way up to the final scene of the film. This connection wasn't clear to me in the original version, but now that its made much more obvious due to the insertion of several dropped scenes with him, it really hits home.

The absurdity of war that Fuller sought to portray really comes through more as well. The French Legion cavalry vs. the German tank in the ampitheater is just one of those scenes. The "infiltrator" at their table is but another, briefer one, but one of those "gotcha" moments that adds to it. You've also got to love the cut "Fritz" scene during "Sarge's" brief stay in the German hospital, a scene that you know wouldn't have passed muster in 1980, but is just hilarious today.

In addition, the second disc of the set includes even more scenes that didn't make it into the reconstruction, and for good reasons. The commentary over them is simply great from a technical point of view. There's a great documentary on the entire process of the reconstruction, with lots of interviews with the cast (sans Marvin of course) and Fuller himself.

As a package, The Big Red One: The Reconstruction turns a merely average war movie into a true war movie classic. It's sad and unfortunate that Mr. Fuller couldn't have lent a hand in the effort, and that the studio couldn't have put this together in the first place.

The Big Red One: The Reconstruction (1980/2004) on Spout.com

Originally posted on:War Movie Reviews and News

Lions For Lambs (2007)

Honestly, I was somewhat dreading going into Lions For Lambs. From all the buzz I read and heard, I was expecting a wholesale administration-bashing political commentary from the Hollywood contingent on the war in Iraq.

I was wrong. Well, sort of.

The expected bashing of the current policies which has led us to the sorry state we are in is there, but fortunately, it isn't the overriding theme of the picture. And because of that, I actually found myself engrossed by the film.

Is there a particularly complex story line? No. Lots of hardcore war movie action? Again, no. What you have here is a movie that (hopefully) will make you think, and think hard.

There are three interconnected stories going on here, the first involves Senator Jasper Irving (Tom Cruise) who has invited reporter Janine Roth (Meryl Streep) into his office to "announce" a new strategy in fighting the war on terror.

The second involves two soldiers, Finch (Derek Luke) and Rodriguez (Michael Pena) who find themselves severely injured and stranded on an Afghan mountainside after falling from their Chinook. OK, well, you have to sort of accept that they'd actually survive that... but that really doesn't matter. They're part of the first mission in this "new" strategic initiative.

The third, and probably the most interesting plot line of the picture involves a Political Science professor, Malley (Robert Redford) meeting with one of his students, Todd Hayes (Andrew Garfield.) In my opinion, this section of the film is what its all about. We also find a connection between Finch and Rodriguez to Dr. Malley.

Frankly, most of the picture is just talking heads. Normally, this would make for a rather dull and uninteresting 100 minutes of screen time. Not so. It's what they are saying here that grabs your attention and actually makes you think.

You see, the picture basically blames the ills of America in general, and as it relates to the war, on our own increasing apathy. Basically, we don't give a shit anymore. And you know what? They're absolutely right.

We don't learn from our past mistakes, as Roth so helpfully points out to Irving. The whole "smaller groups" and "hearts and minds" thing was done before, and it didn't exactly work out so well.

We don't understand what it means to have a stake in anything important. Hayes attitude towards his class, and life in general illustrates that. Malley's counter-arguments to him are just brilliant, and quite insightful.

Then there are our two stranded men in uniform. They signed up after Malley's trying to dissuade them. They are the ones who have the ultimate stake in things.

Sure at times things get a little preachy. Rodriguez and Finch's classroom presentation on "engagement at home" was the prime example. It somehow felt out of place, right up until they slapped their induction notices on the projector.

Basically there is no set beginning, middle, and end to the story. There isn't really a "story" to speak of. This is a philosophical journey, and by the end of it you should be thinking about everything put in front of you. I know I was.

Lions For Lambs has its weak moments, but overall I found it involving on an intellectual level you don't get from the traditional war movie.

Technorati Tags: lions for lambs, dvd, 2007, iraq, policy, politics, tom cruise, meryl streep, robert redford, andrew garfield, michael pena, derek luke

Lions For Lambs (2007) on Spout.com

Originally posted on:War Movie Reviews and News