Letters from Iwo Jima (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'Letters from Iwo Jima' provides the much anticipated Japanese point of view of Clint Eastwood's historical war drama, Flags of our Fathers. The first film highlights America's victory and 'heroes', while this film highlights Japan's defeat & tragedy. Nice, huh? Seriously now, if you thought portions of Flags were dark & dire, you ain't seen nothin' yet. We know the history; but Eastwood does an ample job at expressing his interpretation of what happens in those caves throughout the lengthy battle in Iwo Jima. The cinematography is amazing, and the acting is ten times better than that in Flags. But Clint Eastwood would have benefited from a 'less is more policy' for the entirety of 'Letter from Iwo Jima'.
Iwo Jima is the lone island sitting between the Americans & the Japanese mainland. The Imperial Japanese Army is desperate to keep it as a stronghold against the enemy. Given a late command of the island, General Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) tries some new tactics to try & win the battle. Old techniques would not work with such few men on his side; they had to fight from the caves. Hiding on the beach would prove for a swift massacre. If they lay low in the caves on the hills, leading to the brooding Mount Suribachi, they'd have a small chance. Fellow generals and military officers resent Kuribayashi's plans and the regime begins to crumble. Many of his subordinates would rather kill themselves before the enemy and/or Kuribayashi sends them to a shameful grave.
Meanwhile, we meet Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya), a simple baker who enters the war by way of a draft. His pregnant wife is scared. And Siago makes a tender promise to her robust belly that he will return safely. That's a pretty hefty promise, given the historical situation at hand. It's interesting to note that although Saigo is honored & accepts his position in the war, he does so knowing he will most likely die for his country (an ideal he's not wholly sold on). His struggle to obey orders, escape death, and survive the harsh conditions is well documented & my absolute favorite part of the film. Against the most powerful resistance imaginable, Gen. Kuribayashi & Saigo find courage, honor, & inner-strength, amid the imminent turmoil. You'll have to view the film to discover their fate.
In Flags of our Fathers, Eastwood goes to great lengths to show American patriotism. That is, raising the flag as a 'symbol' of patriotism, dying as a 'hero', selling war bonds, enjoying a limelight in the 'hero' status, etc. But a question I posed in my review of Flags resurfaces ... what is American patriotism? Most Americans join the army as an escape. Maybe they're searching for companionship and purpose in life. Are they trained well enough to understand that the almighty U.S.A. WILL suffer thousands and thousands of losses? Are they trying like Hell to stay alive? Or are they 'fighting' for their nation? Eastwood makes it clear that Japanese patriotism is more grounded in reverence for the Emperor and the nation, rather than self-indulgence. Both interpretations of Patriotism are heavy-handed. It's just interesting how Eastwood bangs home the pro-enemy angle in 'Iwo Jima'; & many people will buy into it.
Ken Watanabe is fantastic as the head General. He excels in moments of light-heartedness, poignancy, reflection, hope, angst & despair. He is my favorite foreign film actor. Aside from the impressive Kazunari Ninomiya (Saigo), there's the amazing Tsuyoshi Ihara as Baron Nishi, an Olympic medalist who is friends with America, but fights hard for Japan (sadly true of Gen. Kuribayashi, as well). Ryo Kase completely breaks your heart as Shimizu, a fellow soldier. And Shido Nakamura is loathsome as Ito, an officer resistant to Kuribayashi's plans. His 'end' isn't fulfilling, but the 'means' to that end are satisfying enough.
This film is hard to enjoy because of its depressing, inevitable conclusion. But its cinematography, music score, emotional execution, stellar acting, & thoughtful intentions are hard to dismiss. My only real problem with the film is that its battle sequences (impressive enough) go on & on & on for way too long. And like Flags, the script & composition occasionally lose their punch because of redundancy. Overall, 'Iwo Jima' is the bookend to an impressive and intriguing look at a significant piece of history. And I can just about understand it's nominations in Best Picture & Director for the 79th Academy Awards this February.
Iwo Jima is the lone island sitting between the Americans & the Japanese mainland. The Imperial Japanese Army is desperate to keep it as a stronghold against the enemy. Given a late command of the island, General Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) tries some new tactics to try & win the battle. Old techniques would not work with such few men on his side; they had to fight from the caves. Hiding on the beach would prove for a swift massacre. If they lay low in the caves on the hills, leading to the brooding Mount Suribachi, they'd have a small chance. Fellow generals and military officers resent Kuribayashi's plans and the regime begins to crumble. Many of his subordinates would rather kill themselves before the enemy and/or Kuribayashi sends them to a shameful grave.
Meanwhile, we meet Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya), a simple baker who enters the war by way of a draft. His pregnant wife is scared. And Siago makes a tender promise to her robust belly that he will return safely. That's a pretty hefty promise, given the historical situation at hand. It's interesting to note that although Saigo is honored & accepts his position in the war, he does so knowing he will most likely die for his country (an ideal he's not wholly sold on). His struggle to obey orders, escape death, and survive the harsh conditions is well documented & my absolute favorite part of the film. Against the most powerful resistance imaginable, Gen. Kuribayashi & Saigo find courage, honor, & inner-strength, amid the imminent turmoil. You'll have to view the film to discover their fate.
In Flags of our Fathers, Eastwood goes to great lengths to show American patriotism. That is, raising the flag as a 'symbol' of patriotism, dying as a 'hero', selling war bonds, enjoying a limelight in the 'hero' status, etc. But a question I posed in my review of Flags resurfaces ... what is American patriotism? Most Americans join the army as an escape. Maybe they're searching for companionship and purpose in life. Are they trained well enough to understand that the almighty U.S.A. WILL suffer thousands and thousands of losses? Are they trying like Hell to stay alive? Or are they 'fighting' for their nation? Eastwood makes it clear that Japanese patriotism is more grounded in reverence for the Emperor and the nation, rather than self-indulgence. Both interpretations of Patriotism are heavy-handed. It's just interesting how Eastwood bangs home the pro-enemy angle in 'Iwo Jima'; & many people will buy into it.
Ken Watanabe is fantastic as the head General. He excels in moments of light-heartedness, poignancy, reflection, hope, angst & despair. He is my favorite foreign film actor. Aside from the impressive Kazunari Ninomiya (Saigo), there's the amazing Tsuyoshi Ihara as Baron Nishi, an Olympic medalist who is friends with America, but fights hard for Japan (sadly true of Gen. Kuribayashi, as well). Ryo Kase completely breaks your heart as Shimizu, a fellow soldier. And Shido Nakamura is loathsome as Ito, an officer resistant to Kuribayashi's plans. His 'end' isn't fulfilling, but the 'means' to that end are satisfying enough.
This film is hard to enjoy because of its depressing, inevitable conclusion. But its cinematography, music score, emotional execution, stellar acting, & thoughtful intentions are hard to dismiss. My only real problem with the film is that its battle sequences (impressive enough) go on & on & on for way too long. And like Flags, the script & composition occasionally lose their punch because of redundancy. Overall, 'Iwo Jima' is the bookend to an impressive and intriguing look at a significant piece of history. And I can just about understand it's nominations in Best Picture & Director for the 79th Academy Awards this February.