Anti-War Films Don't Get Any Better Than This

Rating: Null/10 (10 January 2015)

Making a profound statement against war, crafted with precision care & sincerity, and featuring some truly memorable & exquisitely detailed shots throughout its runtime, Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory is one of the finest examples of its genre which established the then-young filmmaker as one of the most promising directors of its time & continues to influence warfare filmmaking, even today.
Based on Humphrey Cobb's novel of the same name, the story of Paths of Glory is set in France during the First World War and concerns Colonel Dax; a commanding officer of French soldiers, who goes against the orders of his superiors & refuses to continue marching his troops towards what's clearly a suicide mission, only to later defend them when they're charged with cowardice in a court-martial.
Directed by Stanley Kubrick, the entire picture is steadily narrated, properly introduces its fascinating characters & presents a remarkable level of craftsmanship in its technical aspects. Set pieces are state-of-the-art stuff, Cinematography is notable for its fluid tracking shots, the brutality of war is unflinchingly portrayed, Editing is steadily carried out & its score provides a militarised feel to the whole narrative.
Coming to the acting department, Paths of Glory features a fine cast in Kirk Douglas, George Macready & others, and the performances are very impressive. Leading from the front is Douglas as Colonel Dax; the commander who stops the attack midway after the first wave are mercilessly slaughtered. Macready plays General Mireau, who in pursuit of more power green lights the attack despite being aware of the impossibility of the mission & the supporting cast chips in strongly too.
On an overall scale, anti-war films don't get any better than this for Paths of Glory presents Stanley Kubrick in prime form & is a timeless classic that hasn't lost even an ounce of its effectiveness despite being nearly 60 years old. Brilliantly directed, deftly scripted, boldly shot, splendidly photographed, tightly edited & nicely scored, Paths of Glory is an amazing portrait of greed, fear, death, war & duty that comes one hundred percent recommended.