Check Out the Trailer

Terrence Malick (DAYS OF HEAVEN, THE NEW WORLD) is a filmmaker not as interested in narrative as he is in poetry. If there were ever a filmmaker who has been able to bring the mood of transcendent poetry to the screen it is he.

This film is based on James Jones’ autobiographical novel about the battle for Guadalcanal during WWII. The central character is Private Witt (James Caviezel, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST), an AWOL soldier who has been living with a native tribe peacefully for some time. He has a Christ-like air about him (pun not intended). He is discovered by bitter and grizzled first sergeant Edward Welsh (Sean Penn, MYSTIC RIVER). Witt is given a second chance to fight at Guadalcanal for C Company whose mission is to take a key airfield.

Leading the troops is Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Tall (Nick Nolte, NORTHFORK), who sees this battle as his ticket to fame and promotion after years of kissing butt and getting nowhere. Captain James “Bugger” Staros (Elias Koteas, THE PROPHECY) is the leader of the troupes on the ground and deeply cares about their welfare above winning the battle. This puts him at conflict with Tall. Other key characters include the quiet and nervous Corporal Fife (Adrien Brody, THE PIANIST); Private Jack Bell (Ben Chaplin, MURDER BY NUMBERS), who gets through the war on the memory of his wife (Miranda Otto, LORD OF THE RINGS) back home; the brave Private First Class Doll (Dash Mihok, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW); and the dedicated and thoughtful Captain John Gaff (John Cusack, HIGH FIDELITY).

This is only a list of the main cast members. The film also includes George Clooney (SYRIANA), Woody Harrelson (NATURAL BORN KILLERS), Jared Leto (PANIC ROOM), Tim Blake Nelson (O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?), John C. Reilly (CHICAGO), John Savage (THE DEER HUNTER), John Travolta (PULP FICTION), Thomas Jane (THE PUNISHER), Nick Stahl (BULLY) and Arie Verveen (SIN CITY).

The film peeks in and out of the stories and feelings of the various characters as they prepare for battle, engage in it and reflect afterward before the next battle begins. The film captures a range of feelings and thoughts about war from the pointlessness of it all, to personal reasons for fighting, to how it affects the men, to war’s randomness.

In its detail, the film brings us into the experience of the fighters, much like SAVING PRIVATE RYAN did in the same year. But like many of Malick’s films, we are often kept at an emotional distance. His tone almost creates an out-of-body experience for the viewer, where we float above the action and observe it.

Yet he still tugs at our hearts with evocative cinematography and thoughtful observations. Sometimes I feel he gets too heavy-handed and at other times too obscure, but overall the film is something that sticks with you. Malick is a master of image and takes his time developing his story, usually hitting you with an emotional sledgehammer toward the end. I particularly was moved by Witt’s return to the native village and Bell reading the letter from his wife. The tagline for the film was “Each man fights his own war.” I think that really sums up this film well.