Patton (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Patton' (Franklin J. Schaffner's epic 1970 war biopic) stars George C. Scott, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his vigorous portrait of the fanatical WWII American renegade general & famed tank commander {Scott refused the win; didn't like competition}. This painstaking, thought-provoking saga was nominated for 10 Academy Awards; winning 7, including Best Picture. The movie opens with the very memorable scene of General Patton (Scott), dressed in a special uniform, standing before a tank-sized American flag & giving a 6-min. speech that includes him stating: "Now, I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for HIS country".
The narrative explores Patton's larger-than-life WWII career: his early successes in North Africa (the brutal battle of Kasserine in Tunisia) with the tank corps that highlights him defeating celebrated German tank commander Rommel (Karl Michael Vogler); Patton being upset that after that monumental victory he was only given a subordinate position during the invasion of Sicily & Palermo; his bitter rivalry with British Field Marshall Montgomery (Michael Bates) that has the two men contending for who gets the glory for reclaiming Europe from Nazi Germany as Patton is racing through Europe to be 1st man to do it; and Patton's subsequent drive to Bastogne to rescue the 101st Airborne trapped in the infamous Battle of the Bulge.
The story touches upon Patton's gnawing jealousy for his old ally, the more serene American Gen. Omar Bradley (Karl Malden). He was the general who stood by Patton & gave him his 2nd chance to succeed with the tank command in France. To this, the movie competently covers the war process at the Battle of the Bulge; showing how Patton sat-out the D-Day operation during the Normandy invasion as a decoy. In the end, though they are stunningly shot, it is not the realistic battle scenes - filmed with real tanks & planes on location in England, Spain, Morocco & Greece - that stand out, but it IS George C. Scott's marvelous performance that carries 'Patton'. Scott's Patton is egotistical, bad-tempered, insubordinate, but also whip smart, patriotic and, the man's belief in reincarnation adds an enigmatic layer to him. Even Walter Cronkite, who knew the real Patton, remarked that after seeing this film, it would be hard to tell which one was the real man.
This is a lottttt of movie. It's also several things at once: it is a "war is hell" film, but also a meaty drama, and also a "desire for power" biopic about the controversial, pugnacious war hero, Gen. "Old Blood & Guts" Patton. When I say controversial, it can be reminded that Patton once had to issue a public apology & got demoted by Allied Commander 'Ike' for slapping a combat-fatigued, skulking soldier (Tim Considine) while visiting a hospital; branding him with cowardice in the process. This war drama glorifies General Patton, but it does so in a smart kind of way whereby the intrepid, mythical portrait of him is somewhat discredited without actually minimizing any of his incredible military accomplishments; quite the balancing act!
It tells of the tough love that Patton gave to his under men. To satiate his egocentric aspirations, Patton goes to any length to sacrifice those in his way. To that, it is a great character study which leaves big questions open about the veiled aims of officers in charge during wartime. The film is grandiosely directed by Franklin J. Schaffner (of Papillon, The Planet of the Apes) & astutely written by one, Francis Ford Coppola. From Fred Koenkamp's great photography that captures panoramic battles as well as he frames quiet character moments, to the period production design, to Jerry Goldsmith's haunting, trumpet-laden score, 'Patton' has it all. So yeah, great film. Lonnggg film. Too long. But when it's as powerful as it is ... hard to argue with its greatness.
The narrative explores Patton's larger-than-life WWII career: his early successes in North Africa (the brutal battle of Kasserine in Tunisia) with the tank corps that highlights him defeating celebrated German tank commander Rommel (Karl Michael Vogler); Patton being upset that after that monumental victory he was only given a subordinate position during the invasion of Sicily & Palermo; his bitter rivalry with British Field Marshall Montgomery (Michael Bates) that has the two men contending for who gets the glory for reclaiming Europe from Nazi Germany as Patton is racing through Europe to be 1st man to do it; and Patton's subsequent drive to Bastogne to rescue the 101st Airborne trapped in the infamous Battle of the Bulge.
The story touches upon Patton's gnawing jealousy for his old ally, the more serene American Gen. Omar Bradley (Karl Malden). He was the general who stood by Patton & gave him his 2nd chance to succeed with the tank command in France. To this, the movie competently covers the war process at the Battle of the Bulge; showing how Patton sat-out the D-Day operation during the Normandy invasion as a decoy. In the end, though they are stunningly shot, it is not the realistic battle scenes - filmed with real tanks & planes on location in England, Spain, Morocco & Greece - that stand out, but it IS George C. Scott's marvelous performance that carries 'Patton'. Scott's Patton is egotistical, bad-tempered, insubordinate, but also whip smart, patriotic and, the man's belief in reincarnation adds an enigmatic layer to him. Even Walter Cronkite, who knew the real Patton, remarked that after seeing this film, it would be hard to tell which one was the real man.
This is a lottttt of movie. It's also several things at once: it is a "war is hell" film, but also a meaty drama, and also a "desire for power" biopic about the controversial, pugnacious war hero, Gen. "Old Blood & Guts" Patton. When I say controversial, it can be reminded that Patton once had to issue a public apology & got demoted by Allied Commander 'Ike' for slapping a combat-fatigued, skulking soldier (Tim Considine) while visiting a hospital; branding him with cowardice in the process. This war drama glorifies General Patton, but it does so in a smart kind of way whereby the intrepid, mythical portrait of him is somewhat discredited without actually minimizing any of his incredible military accomplishments; quite the balancing act!
It tells of the tough love that Patton gave to his under men. To satiate his egocentric aspirations, Patton goes to any length to sacrifice those in his way. To that, it is a great character study which leaves big questions open about the veiled aims of officers in charge during wartime. The film is grandiosely directed by Franklin J. Schaffner (of Papillon, The Planet of the Apes) & astutely written by one, Francis Ford Coppola. From Fred Koenkamp's great photography that captures panoramic battles as well as he frames quiet character moments, to the period production design, to Jerry Goldsmith's haunting, trumpet-laden score, 'Patton' has it all. So yeah, great film. Lonnggg film. Too long. But when it's as powerful as it is ... hard to argue with its greatness.