.."horror has a face"..

Rating: 10/10 (30 July 2006)

I saw "Apocalypse Now" three-days-in-a-row when it was originally released in what I thought was one of the greatest theaters ever - The Dome in Hollywood. Although it was scheduled for demolition (which actually began), public outpouring saved it. It's saved for major releases, but you can hardly get in. There is "no seating" once the reels have begun to roll.
Those early experiences were dazzling to me - I knew immediately this was going to be a classic film which provoked a myriad of opinions in every person who saw it. I suspect
none of us truly understand the layers of human frailty and brutality Coppola was trying to present. His great successes with "The Godfather" series made it possible and viable for him to eventually become the film's producer. I don't think anyone else could have done it more brilliantly. While it nearly drove him mad, all of the problems on-set made the movie a much deeper masterpiece. Those who attempt to analyze it, to show us they know the real rationale, are wasting their time - who cares? Younger generations cannot perceive we old ones just could be a lot more sophisticated than is generally thought. The one truth is: "...the war was being run by a bunch of four-star clowns who were gonna end-up giving the whole circus away" (Willard) sounds like an adept explanation of our present, nation-building involvement. Dangerous....
I can attest that all of the cast for "Apocalypse Now Redux" must have been frightfully traumatized by the months of shooting this film required. I made a film with Frederic Forest (Chef) shortly after it was completed; he was ready for the looney-bin. "Trivia" - did you bother to read it? - states Martin Sheen's heart-attack was suppressed news. Brando's shenanigans, for which he's famous, and his unpreparedness for his role truly must have shocked the entire crew - but, his brilliance in his short role is stellar and proves his acting ability is sheer genius. Who else could have done it ? The pictures in the early part of the movie, to depict him when he was able-bodied and thin, were taken from "Reflection in a Golden Eye". Heck, we all knew he was obese and penniless - how can that matter? Just his name made us want to run to the theater.
Only one review I read suggested that some of the actual fighters in Vietnam should have been consulted; so far as I've read, NOT ONE PERSON indicated they were in that war. Yet, those troops were drafted and did their "tour", but were looked-upon as being morally dead when they returned home. "Kill upon command" equals moral zombie. as "Kurtz" scribbled, "drop the bomb - annihilate them all", I became vengeful after 9/11 and am still struggling to understand that emotion, in full realization every nation possessing atomic weapons would fire-them-off, fearing they'd be next. That's our next "apocalypse".......
The reviews of "Apocalypse Now Redux" (and the original) are so intelligently written - every person has been drawn into this epic. Those who didn't like any version of it I can't defend. I, too, was immediately a part of the movie from the first sound to the last, in every frame - I watched it again last night and am still emotionally drained. I was on that boat; I was traveling up that river; I was amazed the Playboy gals were on that stage; I was shocked when they killed all the people on the river-boat; I was appalled by the sex-scenes with the Playboy gals; I was undone with each killing of the crew (Albert Hall was great), I saw all of the hallucinations from the drugs, and I'm a teetotaler (wow! for Sam Bottoms!) which allowed the real troops to survive the horror; I understood why the Frenchmen insisted on staying on their plantation and siding with the VCs; I felt the fear of the journey as they neared "Kurtz's" compound; I could feel his craze and why the photographer thought he was a genius; I recognized the zombie-like stance of the Cambodians; I was terrified when "Willard" first met "Kurtz"; I bit my tongue when "Chef's" head was thrown onto "Willard's" lap; I knew "Kurtz" kept "Willard" alive because he needed the assassination; I picked-up that "Lance" was accepted by the Cambodians, freak-like; I knew the assassination was coming when "Willard" emerged from the river; I was certain "Kurtz" was only waiting; I was terrified after the killing; I expected to be torn limb-by-limb afterward; I rejoiced when "Lance" and "Willard" began their journey down the river; I am glad none of us know what really happened, later.
To those few who wondered if the killing of the water-buffalo caused an uproar, I had read soon after the film's release it was a religious celebration for the local Filipinos - Coppola's cameras just happened to be rolling. What a piece of drama that fit right into the plot.
All of those actors who were offered the role of "Willard" surely must realize they screwed-up by refusing it - or, perhaps they knew they didn't have the stamina nor acting-ability to do it. For those who loved Martin Sheen's narration, he didn't do it: it was his brother, Joe Estevez.
Here is another masterpiece from the 1970s - I see now I must buy the DVD. As one other "user" did, I thank EVERYONE who had any part in its coming to the screen - bravo! for the cinematography and sound-track. This film should be shown to every near-adult student - it's nothing they're not familiar with, including sex and violence. Indeed, I'll watch it many times again and revel in its grandeur, grieving that we do not seem to be able to shake-off our animalistic brutality toward people we do not understand - praying fervently we can overcome....