The Gold Standard For War Films

Rating: 10/10 (19 August 2014)

Apocalypse Now is my favorite war film of all time. It's also one of my favorite films of all time...bar none. With that being said, this near three hour epic is not your typical war film. It's incredibly disturbing...and sure, you could say that many war films could carry that very label, with either a analytical use of graphic violence to convey a message, or one of blatant and over- indulgent use of graphic violence.
However, Apocalypse Now is a different beast. It's a film that uses graphic and realistic violence to prove many things, but under the surface, this film's messages are much broader than one's preconceived notions might expect. It has a lot of impassioned disdain for the Vietnam War, and for that matter, war and violent conflict as a whole. But as the film slowly draws on, and the curtain is slowly pulled back, the plot comes alive with some incredible commentary concerning the human condition, ideas of mortality, corruption, disconnection, and many other broad topics and ideas.
As it nears its final act, the film becomes this mesmerizing piece of art that transcends the simple label of "war film". It becomes something much bolder and ambitious. It justifies its near three-hour run time as all the pieces of this seemingly never-ending descent into the darkness of the war come together to detail the darkness of the human mind. While the ending of the film might be viewed by some as slightly predictable, the overall outcome overshadows any predictable laments over its whole. Apocalypse Now is a film that is masterfully executed, in both its beautiful and sweeping camera work, and of course its fantastic writing and deeply intelligent plot. It more or less uses the setting of Vietnam as a mere plot device to drive on the study of its very flawed, and very human (or lack thereof) characters.
All the actors are fantastic, and excellently suited for their roles. Martin Sheen delivers a brilliant performance as the cold and convicted Willard. While Robert Duvall delivers a chilling performance as the surfing-obsessed Lieutenant Kilgore, with some questionable motives along the way. Even the supporting cast in Apocalypse Now are absolutely wonderful (as is Francis Ford Coppola's standard). Harrison Ford, Dennis Hopper, Laurence Fishburne, Albert Hall, Sam Bottoms, and Frederic Forrest all provide many excellent emotional undertones to the themes at hand. However, my favorite performance of the entourage of actors at hand has to be Marlon Brando's insightful performance as Walter Kurtz. Riveting, spellbinding, brooding, unsettling; you couldn't fashion enough adjectives to describe how this man literally stole the screen in the last twenty minutes of the film.
All in all, Apocalypse Now is big screen perfection. It's one of those rare films where sheer talent, and spectacular social commentary come together to create something ultimately timeless. It's one of my favorite films ever made, as it resonates deeply with me on its analysis of humanity and morality. A beautiful, sweeping piece of art.