Unconventional and strong war film

Rating: 9/10 (8 August 2008)

It is plain to see why so many films and stories about World War II have the Germans be the bad-guys. They are either vile bad-guys or faceless bad-guys and both types of bad-guy are gunned down in large numbers as if they were emotionless unfeeling robots. "Cross of Iron" strikes a different and uncommon note by showing them from the point of view we see the typical good guys. In fact, we see their point of view. There are still Germans getting shot at, blown up by artillery shells, but we're right there with them. Seeing through the same perspective as someone else is a powerful motivator for sympathy and if this film demonstrates any one thing it is that war is hell but it is vital to see that it is hell for all those stuck in the middle of it.
"Cross of Iron" takes place in one small part of the Eastern Front of World War II, it is not really important where since the film is not about the war itself. There is no mention of a military strategy and how the protagonists fit and then how they fight to achieve what their superiors ordered. The film is about the people who fight for reasons that are often beyond them, but they are the ones who know the reality of war while most others are completely delusional to it. They simply have no way of knowing since they are not in the midst of it. This thought sets up the films central conflict with Cpl Steiner, a battle hard soldier facing the delusions of a medal hungry officer assigned as his new commander.
An element of the film that sticks out is its fascinating use of slow motion quick cut sequences. On the surface these seem to accentuate the violence with bursting bloody wounds, but they are actually vital to Steiner's perspective. The story as told through his point of view is literally his point of view. As the battle hardened veteran who has survived many battles he is more acute as to what is going on, he has a sixth sense of sorts, and thus is able to survive. As any great film this element of choreography and editing isn't just for showing off fancy film making technique, it is woven into the story itself. The film simply pulls no cheap tricks and is not afraid to show war as a nasty place where men on both sides often die from the same artillery barrage, children die, both sides brutalize others, etc...
To top it off, James Coburn gives a great lead performance and David Warner, who never quite made it to stardom, has a great supporting role. --- 9/10
BsCDb Classification: 13+ --- violence