A Best Picture Oscar winner that still shines 80 years on

Rating: 8/10 (28 August 2010)

"All Quiet on the Western Front", the 1930 Oscar winner for Best Picture, is based on the novel of the same name by German author Erich Maria Remarque. The film illustrates the physical and emotional hardships faced by German soldiers during WWI, along with their growing detachment from civilized society.
To be honest, "All Quiet on the Western Front" is far from a perfect film. For instance, the sound is spotty, which is no surprise given the film's release only a few years after the advent of 'talkies'. The editing also leaves something to be desired and some of Lewis Milestone's directorial choices are debatable. Furthermore, the script is unfocused in the early going and Lew Ayres' acting is sometimes underwhelming.
All of that being said, the film succeeds despite its many flaws. Once the script finds its stride the story is quite satisfying, both in terms of plot and theme. Likewise, Milestone's direction may be somewhat erratic but the battlefield scenes are nothing short of spectacular. As for the acting, Louis Wolheim is a standout and even though Lew Ayres' acting isn't great it doesn't prevent us from caring about the fate of the film's main character.
Ultimately, I think that the two Oscars that the film won (Best Picture and Best Director) were warranted but it is the film's story that makes it timeless. Eighty years on, "All Quiet on the Western Front" remains a powerful anti-war film.