A film of staggering power and authenticity

Rating: 10/10 (28 January 2002)

I am biased. Let's get that out of the way. I don't think you can watch or review a movie like this and avoid being biased. The mere idea of the United States in a military conflict elicits a strong opinion in nearly anyone.
My bias is this: I loved the book. I read it twice, the first time in two sittings. I find the story absolutely captivating and one of the most heroic accounts I've ever read. The movie would have to try very hard for me not to like it. So I'm biased.
What I can say objectively is this: the cinematography is as good as I have seen in any movie of the last several years. I predict an Oscar nomination. The acting is good, and sometimes more than good. The score is phenomenal. Probably another Oscar nod there. And the directing of the battle scenes is stunning.
Not everyone will like this movie, even if they can appreciate it. Unfortunately, since it's a Bruckheimer project that involves a fair amount of realistic war violence, and leans towards being sentimental in parts, certain so-called highbrows will pan it categorically. Don't listen to them.
Where this movie triumphs is in providing a realistic and accurate portrayal of what this experience looked like and felt like. The point of the film is to put the audience into the experience as it happened. On that level, it is a film of staggering power and authenticity.