The Thin Red Line

"I shot my butt off!!!!"

THE THIN RED LINE (R)

Reviewed January 15, 1999 - Check out The Thin Red Line Website.

I won't argue that The Thin Red Line is filled with more than its share of powerful and memorable images. Directed by Terrence Malick, it follows Army company C-for-Charlie on World War II's Guadalcanal campaign, and sends the same message from a dozen different perspectives: war is hell. With an ensemble cast including Sean Penn, Elias Koteas, Nick Nolte, Jim Caviezel, John Cusack, and Ben Chaplin, The Thin Red Line is a war film that pulls no punches, showing the violence, pain, sacrifice, courage, disillusionment, and (yes) beauty that those at war can experience. For all of this, The Thin Red Line will no doubt earn stature as a film of some cinematic and historic significance. Fine.

As a pure moviegoing experience, however, The Thin Red Line isn't exactly perfect. Running at nearly three hours in length, this is a film that not only is long, but also feels long. Slow, sweeping visuals and angst-ridden, philosophical narrative are intriguing for a while, but they eventually weigh this film down. What's lost is the opportunity to see any meaningful interaction between the men in company C-for-Charlie, and to get a sense of the relationships developed between them through their common experience. For instance, in one sequence halfway through the film, Capt. Staros (Elias Koteas) disobeys the orders of Lt. Col. Tall (Nick Nolte), arguing that he will not send his men (who have fought alongside him for six months) to their deaths. In the context of a strongly developed bond between Staros and his men, this disobedience could be viewed as heroic. Without that context, however, Staros' act can appear as mere disobedience. Unfortunately, The Thin Red Line is at times weak on such necessary context, reducing the emotional and dramatic impact of the events portrayed on screen. We want to care about these men on the field, but as delivered to us by Malick, this is sometimes difficult to do.

Still, hats off for some fine performances by Penn, Koteas, Nolte, Caviezel, Chaplin, and Woody Harrelson (in a short but memorable role). This is a great cast surrounded by wonderful supporting performances, and (with the exception of two distracting cameos by John Travolta and George Clooney) they definitely deserve much credit for the impact that this film does manage to deliver. Is The Thin Red Line a memorable war film? Yes. Is it a "must see?" Not really. Recent years have brought us a number of powerful "war is hell" films (Saving Private Ryan being the most recent), and though The Thin Red Line does deliver a different story in a different place, it may not be unique enough to deserve the three-hour sitting it requires of its audience.

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

zweimannn@yahoo.com gives this movie stars: "I've felt, i've lived, i've cried with this film. Never thought i could feel what i did watching a war-film. The most important thing is what it shows..... we're human beings." (11/25/00)

Geoffrey gives this movie stars: "This is, along with American Beauty and Eyes Wide Shut, Perhaps one of the greatest films of all time to come out in recent years. It's imagery is stunning and beautiful, and its philosophical self-reflection proves both shocking and poignant. There are images and ideas in this movie that will stay with me for the rest of my life. A beautiful movie." (5/11/00)

juaninho@hotmail.com gives this movie stars: "I thought this movie was incredible, and I was wondering if you could tell whether it's possible to obtain the 6-hour version. It's probably impossible and it probably never came out of Mallick's editing room, but just in case... Thanks." (2/18/00)

popolo@intergate.bc.ca gives this movie stars: "The Thin Red Line is a film of vision and contemplation. It is a long film, and requires multiple viewings to be fully appreciated. I think the problem many viewers might have with this film is that it is not entertaining. Like any form of artistic expression, entertainment is not the goal. The cinematography, soundtrack, editing and acting are all superlative. The only negatives I could find would be the inclusion of John Travolta (who looked and acted like Vinnie Barbarino pretending to be a Brigadier General) and the voice-overs of Nick Notle (reminscent of Harrison Ford's voice over in Blade Runner). Comparing this film to Saving Private Ryan is like comparing Aguirre, Wrath of God to Tommy Boy. I was surprised that The Thin Red Line was nominated for an Academy Award. Rarely does the Academy show any appreciation for the art of filmmaking." (5/11/99)

Eileen gives this movie stars: "This film was amazing. I don't understand the complaints that it was too long. Every shot had a message behind it. There's no comparing The Thin Red Line to Saving Private Ryan. Take away SPR's gore and you've got the basic,sentimental, eye-rolling melodrama Spielberg loves to churn out. TTRL, however is the best war movie ever; more interested in exploring the origins of war, nature, and the oversoul as opposed to some (oh, please) Steamboat Willie scene. The characters in SPR were embarassingly cardboard and undeveloped, whereas in TTRL you know each character's (and even a lot of the extra's!) beliefs, disbeliefs, fears, dreams. Add to that beautiful cinematography and excellent acting (there's something very wrong in this world when Gwynnie can win an OSCAR and nobody from TTRL -especially Caviezel- gets any notice). Rather than just trying to shock us through gore or any cheap, gushy, old veteran sobbing scenes - Malick explores the very depth of the good and evil that lie in nature and ourselves." (5/10/99)

anonymous entry gives this movie stars: "I think the thin red line was a fantastic film but a bit long and boring" (4/11/99)

summerwyatt@yahoo.com gives this movie stars: "By far the best movie of the year. I am sick and tired of people saying that it was boring and thinly plotted. What the hell! This movie had everything: action, drama, and was very well acted. Surprisingly Nolte did a great job. To anyone who did not like the movie, I wonder how stupid and naive you are. Maybe rating movies arent your sort of thing. For those of you who havent seen it, go see it today and you will see the best movie of the year!" (3/13/99)

David gives this movie stars: "I don't give many films 5 stars (only 6 in fact have ever got that from me), but this is an unforgettable film. Where Private Ryan shocked you and hurt your outside, The Thin Red Line is more in depth with many emotionally tense scenes. A brilliant cast ; Jim Caviezel is a great one with a good character, Ben Chaplin plays a great role as a man who has left his wife behind and Nick Nolte puts in an exceptional performance ! Sean Penn too is good, but not as good as somewhat expected. I didn't like the stars coming in and out - George Clooney was in it for seriously 30 seconds, and John Travolta wasn't convincing, though he wasn't in it for that long. But the action sequences matc h up to any Ryan anyday. Still realistic and brutal, but not as much as Private Ryan, it is very raw and disturbing. But the greatest aspect about it was the exceptional depth into the characters and the two sides of the war, the emotional scenes of despair and horror, and the great cinematography and screenplay. If I had to say one thing was a little wrong was the length, and it did feel long, but it only created more time for specifics and extra footage on scenes. Brilliant and touching, raw and moving, The Thin Red Line should be considered one of the great movies of the century." (3/7/99)

lrdkunii@aol.com says: "In My Opinon The Thin Red Line is not only the most Brillant war film of all Time( Saving Priavte Ryan is long, simplistic and often stupid and shows how ingonarant spielberg is) but one of the greates films ever made. It ranks among such breakthrogh such as Through a Glass Darkly , The Piano , 8 1/2 and Zentropa . It is Brillantly filmed and acted by an excelent cast . THe Movie is an unforgetable experince and is far superior to S.P.R. Any one who di not like this movie is simply an ingorant person who does not understand movies of inteligence and should not go to them." (2/27/99)

Hayley_Corbett@excite.com gives this movie star: "BORINGGGGGGGGGGGGGG............................. TOOOOOOO LONG!!!!" (2/23/99)

thetonic@aol.com gives this movie stars: "Like the rest of America I went to see Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, and I sat throught the grotesque and subsequently frivolous first half hour of the film (all that action actually took six grueling hours and we can't watch more than thirty minutes?). I came out of the theatre feeling a bit like the first time one sees Platoon. But, The Thin Red Line struck such an intense feeling inside me that for me there can be no contest. The Line is a film that I find perfect. Malick's facination with nature amid all the violence was some of the most incredible imagery I have come across in film in a long time. 3 hours or no, The Thin Red Line was a gripping emotionally-charged endeavor and it showed. Those few boys we follow in the film are almost reminicent of Henry V and although the actual action scenes may have been few and far between there was enough blood and scarring to make the point clear. That choir and the last shot will stay with me for the rest of my life." (2/17/99)

Shaun Smite gives this movie stars: "I am an avid movie-goer, and I was fortunate enough to see Steven Speilbergs brilliant war film "Saving Private Ryan", but to be honest, The Thin Red Line is better. In fact, it is the second best film I have seen all year (next to "The Truman Show"). First off, The Thin Red Line has some of Hollywoods most known and best actors (George Clooney, Woody Harrelson, Sean Penn, John Travolta, Nick Nolte, and John Cusack included). It also has a interesting screenplay that many people have had dispute about. From the graphic battles to the stunning camera angles, the beatiful sets to the tragic death scenes. The Thin Red Line delivers." (2/17/99)

anonymous entry gives this movie stars: "This film depicts war the way it should be shown: long and drawn out, gruesome, and de-humanizing. If you're looking for something entertaining and full of unnescesarry hollywood one-liners, look else where. The Thin Red Line takes a road less traveled in it's presentation. It jumps around from character to character the whole way through, and we don't get incredibly close to any one of them. The scenery, animal and plant life,natives, and soldiers on both sides are all given an almost equal importance in this film. It all works though, and makes for a piece rich in style, beauty, and feel. It was more of just a cold, stark look at war, rather than a classic narrative, character-driven film as we're used to. The screenplay and direction were excellent. There really was not one moment in this film which I felt seemed staged and scripted out. I can't say that about many films. The cinematography was phenomenal- some of the best I've ever seen. The visuals are beautiful. And for the acting, it was flawlessl. The musical score by Hanz Zimmer added to the beauty and horror of this film perfectly. It was for the most part very simple, but I like that more than the "epic" scores in so many big films. I do have to agree, however, that John Travolta and George Clooney took away from the picture. Their performances were fitting for the film, but why throw them each in for a minute? I would have preferred unknowns. Also, it could have done without quite so many of the characters' thoughts. Those are my only two complaints, and I would have given it five stars if not for these two things. Alll in all, a great film which I feel should be seen. " (2/10/99)

tmyer@hotmail.com gives this movie stars: "I went to this movie NOT expecting Saving Private Ryan. I knew it would be different. And, as I think back upon what I saw, I actually would say that I liked the movie. However, the 3 hours that I was sitting there seemed unbearable. My two friends were asleep within 5 minutes, but my fiance loved it. I think this movie cannot be thoroughly understood by the people of my generation. (I'm 26) I agree with the reviews above about the beauty vs. the fear. I really admire T.Mallick for doing this movie. But, I would stick with the rental." (2/4/99)

d-park@cornell-iowa.edu gives this movie stars: "Yes, the Thin Red Line proved to be one of the longest movies to watch. It's as if there isn't a bird, animal, or leaf that Terrence Malick does not like. But there is a lot more to this film than just beautiful cinematography and long winded speeches. The Thin Red Line proves that war contains fear, and that no person is totally immune to that fear. Both sides, Japanese and American are afraid, no one is more vicious nor more forgiving than the other. Malick throws in cameos left and right, which more or less distract the viewer than keep his or her attention, but if one bears in mind that there is a point to all the talking and flashbacks there is truly something to be said about this film. I'll admit it first off that most people will not like it, and say that Saving Private Ryan is more dramatic and action filled, but Malick makes it a point that the "standard war movie material" isn't always the truth. It takes a lot to show both sides of the war and the politics that make war that much more frustrating. I've never seen any film to this date, that showed war for war, and not just some one-sided view of the side that won or lost. I'll give Malick the credit for doing this, and for showing the full picture of war and not cutting it down to the typical John Wayne like film. However, I will agree with anyone that getting to the point is sometimes that much more important than beautiful landscapes and scenery." (1/24/99)