The most powerful film of 1998

Rating: 10/10 (5 November 1999)

(Well, it's a tie with Private Ryan). Before I saw this film, I thought that "Shakespeare in Love," though unworthy of it's Best Picture Award, was a desent movie. Now that I've finally sat down and watched "The Thin Red Line" and seen what it was up against, between this war epic and "Saving Private Ryan," I am banging to the beat of a different drum. How, oh how, did "Shakespeare in Love" beat "The Thin Red Line" for best picture?
I'm not sure. Perhaps people just didn't understand this film and dismissed it as a "Private Ryan" wannabe. This isn't true. While "Ryan" was an equally powerful film, the themes were much different. "Ryan" had a single tone, and it followed it: Is the lives of eight men worth risking for the life of one? "Red Line's" whole concept is, why are men evil enough for wars to even exist in the first place? From this point, it asks many questions: What is the value of human life? What are we fighting for? Is the enemy really evil, or are they just like us, fighting for their beliefs? In addition, it paints the picture of the war through the eyes of at least eight main characters, as they struggle through emotional turmoil.
The cast is great. Malick's direction and script is perfection. The cinemintography is the best I've seen since "Braveheart." There is absolutely no flaws in the film, and from the character's private wars to the central themes, everything is played out with a touch of a master.
Again to reiterate: How on Earth did "Shakespeare in Love" beat this masterpiece? I'll tell you why: Hollywood is no longer comfortable with films about topics like this...It would rather settle for films about sex and false-romance over films about true sacrifice and humanity. And as long as Hollywood continues to think this way, more excellent films like "The Thin Red Line" will miss the opportunity it deserves: the opportunity to be awarded for its greatness!
****************************** out of ****