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John Doe’s 12 Neglected War Gems for Memorial Day
12 Lesser Discussed War Visualizations
Johnny Got His Gun - DVD Cover
Celebrating those who yanked the pin out of the grenade, pulled the trigger, attached bayonets or lit the fuse on cannonballs, Memorial Day is this weekend in the US and it seems like a good time to discuss some lesser seen combat films that achieved there aims admirably.
JD has been reluctant to ever do a list of “favourite war films”, because, well, the problem begins with inappropriate use of the word “favourite” to describe mass carnage. It makes him feel like Phil Hartman in Small Soldiers. Beyond that though the genre itself is tough to define, is a war film only in combat? Does it include the aftermath, can it contain films that take place in an era of war on the home front?
This list is “lesser discussed” which means that accepted classics like Apocalypse Now, MASH, The Big Red One, The Thin Red Line, Platoon, All’s Quiet on the Western Front etc are respected by JD but have no place on this post.
Putting the cross hairs on battles America has fought, (after all it is there Holiday), below is a dirty dozen flicks that made an impression on JD. Movies he seldom here’s mentioned when the topic of "medal of honour" worthy cinematic excursions are raised:
The stars of Ride with the Devil
Director Ang Lee has since earned a reputation as a consummate filmmaker, but upon release this realistic Civil War drama was completely ignored. Painting a bleak reality the story explores the social upheaval and conflicted ideals at the core of the conflict.
The solemn face of The Steel Helmet
Never shying away from stark realism, as a Korean War veteran Director Sam Fuller (The Big Red One, Fixed Bayonets, Merrill’s Marauders) injects an ahead of its time rawness dictated by his own experiences.
Brando and America forced to change?
Set in a fictional Southeast Asian country named Sarkan, Marlon Brando stars as a headstrong U.S. Ambassador faced with the ugly truth about fighting an ideological menace on foreign soil.
Johnny Got His Gun (1971) – WW1
Written and Directed by the independent thinking Dalton Trumbo (Papillion, Spartacus) this nightmare unfolds inside the head of a soldier who has lost his arms, legs, ears, nose and mouth to a mortar shell on the last day of WWI.
The DVD trailer for Johnny Got His Gun
Julie Andrews and James Garner in The Americanization fo Emily
The Americanization of Emily (1964) – WWII
Considered by veteran turned actor James Garner as his best film, this black comedy vocalizes that before peace can prevail nations need to stop building monuments and hailing those who die for senseless political causes.
Jack Palance raises a rifle in defiance of orders in Attack
When the name Robert Alderich arises many immediately turn to The Dirty Dozen as his definitive combat moment but Attack truly deserves to be mentioned in the same breath. Covering similar ground to Kubrick’s Paths of Glory and Peckinpah’s Cross of Iron this Jack Palance (Shane) entry tackles the corrupted chain of command and those who risk the lives of their men for personal glory and gain.
Lee Marvin showing how its done in Hell in the Pacific
Toshiro Mifune (Seven Samurai) is a loyal Japanese soldier and Lee Marvin is a pilot shot down during WWII who are stranded on a desert island together. Refusing to yield they continue their own senseless fight instead of uniting to survive. The film is directed by John Boorman (Deliverance).
Woody makes a point
This Michael Winterbottom film centers on journalists in the early stages of the Bosnian conflict. Woody Harrelson discovers his humanity when faced with the children as casualties of war.
The fighting continues Over There
Over There (2005) – Iraq
Breaking the rules, this is actually a TV series not a movie. While Generation Kill is widely seen as the definitive Iraq War small screen entry and JD won’t argue, this equally impressive Steven Bochco created dramatization offers many merits for watching.
The poster for Dogs of War
The politics and corporate agendas of combat are highlighted in this soldiers of fortune action drama starring Christopher Walken as a man hired to cause upheaval in a small South African country.
Nicholas cage loves being a Lord of War
In this dark satire Nicholas Cage plays Yuri Orlov an international arms trader who has no problem being the source for death on a massive scale. Again money rules the individual and those with violent desires are readily provided weapons if it serves a political or financial objective.
Poster for Buffalo Soldiers
Buffalo Soldiers (2001) – War Comedy
Directed by Aussie Gregor Jordan (Two Hands) and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Ed Harris, Scott Glen and Anna Paquin the tagline says it all, “War is hell…but peace is fucking boring." A comedy set in a West German U.S base where destruction is a self inflicted wound.
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