Flags of our Fathers (B or 3/4 stars)
Are there ever any genuine heroes? Do heroes 'happen' or are they conceived in myth?
'Flags of our Fathers' is a war drama directed by Clint Eastwood. A 2nd film on this topic will be released in February showing the Japanese POV; I can't wait! In 1945, one of the most famous pictures in American history was taken of 6 men putting up an American flag on Mount Suribachi, during WWII. 3 surviving soldiers who erect the flag during this battle of Iwo Jima, John 'Doc' Bradley (Ryan Phillipe), Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford), & Ira Hayes (Adam Beach), return to a nation that sees them as 'heroes', when, according to them, the real heroes lie dead on the battlefield. Told via multi-narration, & through the memoirs of John Bradley's son, this film focuses on a secret involving the actual flag that is raised, a promotional tour that sells war bonds, & the survivors' guilt that these 3 men endure.
This is not one of Eastwood's finest and, it runs a tad long, but the base of the film is solid & the cinematography is incredibly stark. To say this film is jumpy is an understatement. Literally, we jump, back & forth, btwn. 3 stories in non-linear fashion. Dispersed through the movie is the actual battle at Iwo Jima (extremely well done), the 3 main characters getting angsty with various politician/war bond woes (incredibly tedious), & the resolution of the movie where James Bradley tries to tie-in everything in present day (very effective in the end).
Eastwood does a decent job of introducing the cast. These are young, eager men who joke around, play cards, & lie in wait for battle to commence. The battle begins & we are instantaneously enraptured. Who knew Clint could do war? Unfortunately, for us, most of the film revolves around the story of these 3 men and their laboring spiral into despair, depression, drinking, & desolation. 'Doc', Rene, & Ira (who is constantly harassed because he is an Indian) think that the propaganda of selling war bonds to keep the war going is a farce. Speaking of Ira and his race/heritage, I'm sure that it was a big deal during World War II that an Indian was a soldier; but boy does Clint take up a lot of time making sure we 'get' that there were prejudices ... who'd have thought it? It also makes up for a distinct lack of air-time by any African-American on screen; but I digress.
'Flags of our Fathers' isn't your typical war epic. The battle scenes are horrific, gory, sad ... as they should be. But this film is not so much about the battle as it is about the famous photograph & the scandal surrounding it. And this is where the film falls short a bit. We're shown many scenes in which the guys (all with very distinct personalities) hem-and-haw about their fate. But several of these scenes & themes are listless. Sure, Ira (Beach) gets drunk, cries, gets drunk, cries. It is repetitive & not quite as moving as you'd think. Also, I cannot believe I am saying this (Eastwood film, and all), but the overall acting, while decent, simply does not measure up to the bigness of the entire films' importance. I don't particularly blame the actors because the jumpiness of the plot leaves very little room for us to get very attached to our 'heroes'. Most of these actors have had better roles in the past. This fairly vacuous script by Paul Haggis really made me scratch my head.
I can't help but think about this year's Flyboys as I type this review. Is Flyboys an Oscar caliber movie? No, it isn't. It is too linear a film for the Academy to accept. But it IS a movie that entertains & makes its' intentions very clear from beginning to end. For as Oscar caliber as 'Flags of our Fathers' is with its' cast, director, writers, subject matter, brilliant cinematography, etc., it definitely lacks these said intentions and a certain cohesiveness.
I imagine this movie will be appreciated mostly by veterans. Veterans will take all that stirs memories from this film & overlook shortcomings. Character study or not, Clint should have trimmed the film a bit & prevented some of that 'flat' feeling. Even an epilogue about our protagonists makes us wish we knew more about the other men who were less fortunate. But there's a heartwarming scene btwn. Doc Bradley & his son (present today) that is truly authentic & poignant. And I also liked the very last scene which sends a message ... are the heroes the survivors or the deceased? Is patriotism what drives them? Or are they ordinary guys who join the army for companionship & purpose in life? Are they just pawns in the game of War? Or are they poor fools who band together & try like Hell to stay alive amid interminable terror? The answer is all of these. And it is up to you, with the help of this film, to decide who you would be?
'Flags of our Fathers' is a war drama directed by Clint Eastwood. A 2nd film on this topic will be released in February showing the Japanese POV; I can't wait! In 1945, one of the most famous pictures in American history was taken of 6 men putting up an American flag on Mount Suribachi, during WWII. 3 surviving soldiers who erect the flag during this battle of Iwo Jima, John 'Doc' Bradley (Ryan Phillipe), Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford), & Ira Hayes (Adam Beach), return to a nation that sees them as 'heroes', when, according to them, the real heroes lie dead on the battlefield. Told via multi-narration, & through the memoirs of John Bradley's son, this film focuses on a secret involving the actual flag that is raised, a promotional tour that sells war bonds, & the survivors' guilt that these 3 men endure.
This is not one of Eastwood's finest and, it runs a tad long, but the base of the film is solid & the cinematography is incredibly stark. To say this film is jumpy is an understatement. Literally, we jump, back & forth, btwn. 3 stories in non-linear fashion. Dispersed through the movie is the actual battle at Iwo Jima (extremely well done), the 3 main characters getting angsty with various politician/war bond woes (incredibly tedious), & the resolution of the movie where James Bradley tries to tie-in everything in present day (very effective in the end).
Eastwood does a decent job of introducing the cast. These are young, eager men who joke around, play cards, & lie in wait for battle to commence. The battle begins & we are instantaneously enraptured. Who knew Clint could do war? Unfortunately, for us, most of the film revolves around the story of these 3 men and their laboring spiral into despair, depression, drinking, & desolation. 'Doc', Rene, & Ira (who is constantly harassed because he is an Indian) think that the propaganda of selling war bonds to keep the war going is a farce. Speaking of Ira and his race/heritage, I'm sure that it was a big deal during World War II that an Indian was a soldier; but boy does Clint take up a lot of time making sure we 'get' that there were prejudices ... who'd have thought it? It also makes up for a distinct lack of air-time by any African-American on screen; but I digress.
'Flags of our Fathers' isn't your typical war epic. The battle scenes are horrific, gory, sad ... as they should be. But this film is not so much about the battle as it is about the famous photograph & the scandal surrounding it. And this is where the film falls short a bit. We're shown many scenes in which the guys (all with very distinct personalities) hem-and-haw about their fate. But several of these scenes & themes are listless. Sure, Ira (Beach) gets drunk, cries, gets drunk, cries. It is repetitive & not quite as moving as you'd think. Also, I cannot believe I am saying this (Eastwood film, and all), but the overall acting, while decent, simply does not measure up to the bigness of the entire films' importance. I don't particularly blame the actors because the jumpiness of the plot leaves very little room for us to get very attached to our 'heroes'. Most of these actors have had better roles in the past. This fairly vacuous script by Paul Haggis really made me scratch my head.
I can't help but think about this year's Flyboys as I type this review. Is Flyboys an Oscar caliber movie? No, it isn't. It is too linear a film for the Academy to accept. But it IS a movie that entertains & makes its' intentions very clear from beginning to end. For as Oscar caliber as 'Flags of our Fathers' is with its' cast, director, writers, subject matter, brilliant cinematography, etc., it definitely lacks these said intentions and a certain cohesiveness.
I imagine this movie will be appreciated mostly by veterans. Veterans will take all that stirs memories from this film & overlook shortcomings. Character study or not, Clint should have trimmed the film a bit & prevented some of that 'flat' feeling. Even an epilogue about our protagonists makes us wish we knew more about the other men who were less fortunate. But there's a heartwarming scene btwn. Doc Bradley & his son (present today) that is truly authentic & poignant. And I also liked the very last scene which sends a message ... are the heroes the survivors or the deceased? Is patriotism what drives them? Or are they ordinary guys who join the army for companionship & purpose in life? Are they just pawns in the game of War? Or are they poor fools who band together & try like Hell to stay alive amid interminable terror? The answer is all of these. And it is up to you, with the help of this film, to decide who you would be?