An overly meditative war film

Rating: 6/10 (9 June 2008)

The thing that I usually recall about Malick's "The Thin Red Line" is that it was released around the same time as Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan". These are two vastly different approaches to similar subject matter, both of which ended up vying for the Best Picture Oscar.
The strong point of the film is undoubtedly the direction by Terrence Malick. Intimate scenes and chaotic battle sequences are shot with equal aplomb and throughout the film the cinematography is truly exceptional.
I wish that I could say that the score matched the grandeur of the visuals but I was completely underwhelmed by it. That is unfortunate since so many scenes emphasize the score to a large degree. The score would be passable in the background but it is much too uninteresting to cannot carry a scene on it's own.
The cast is well assembled with only a few questionable choices. Particular standouts include Nick Nolte and Sean Penn, though I find that the cast is so large that it allows only a handful of actors ample opportunity to strut their stuff.
The thing that ruins the film for me is the snail's pace combined with an overly meditative approach. I would have much preferred if the frequent voice-overs had been trimmed extensively. That, combined with the relative lack of action (not a problem in and of itself), lulls me to sleep.
With a plethora of vastly superior war films out there I don't think that there's any need to waste time on this one. It's a marked alternative to "Saving Private Ryan" but even if you're not much of a fan of that film (like me) you may be even less impressed by this one.