The most ambitious and rewarding film of 1998

Rating: Null/10 (22 April 1999)

There are a couple of interesting things I want to look at while discussing The Thin Red Line. My own feelings on what the film means, and the fascinatingly varied reactions the film has received.
I think the many 'boring', 'hated it', type reactions have pretty much emphasised why Hollywood is making the type of films it is today. A lot of people, who consider themselves film fans, complain about how Hollywood is turning out things like Armageddon at the expense of artistic expression. Hollywood is only doing this because that is honestly what the people want.
I'm sure that there are many execs and producers in Hollywood who want to make quality films, The Thin Red Line is proof of this. But it's clear from the general response to this film, that the greater majority of people don't want a film that challenges them to use their mind. They don't want a film that requires some philosophical and emotional input. They don't want a film that doesn't bring in the crowd-pleasing clichÃ©s. They don't want art, they want entertainment. People WANT Armageddon. The execs and producers have no choice but to make that sort of film, because if they don't make profits, they'll lose their job.
I feel The Thin Red Line is the most ambitious film of the year because someone has had the guts to make a large budget art film for once. The Thin Red Line is proof of what can be done with the medium of cinema if one puts their mind to it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not some arty-farty pretentious git. I proudly say that I enjoyed Batman and Robin. But that is base level, dollar driven entertainment at the best, it's certainly not art. It's only when a film like The Thin Red Line comes along, that you truly realise what a great medium cinema can be.
Enough rambling, what did I think of it? This is certainly one of the most beautifully crafted films, perhaps ever. The camera work/cinematography, the editing, the art direction, the sound, the costumes, the music and everything else all come together wonderfully. The film is worthy on that alone. Certainly, you must see this film at a theatre with a big screen, and superb sound. I'm not sure how successfully it will transfer onto video.
The performances deserve a mention. They were uniformly perfect.
Now of course, it's the philosophical meanings of the film that are most important. What was Malick trying to say? Well here's my interpretation. I think perhaps a lot of people have misread this as an anti war film. With his constant comparisons of the battle to nature, I feel almost certain that Malick feels that war, is merely part of nature. Part of human nature. It's in our instinct to war with each other. Even more so, we have it built into us how to survive a war emotionally intact. He shows us that war is hell, but then shows us, that despite this, it doesn't destroy men. Most, in their own ways, find a way to cope.
He does strongly put forward however, that despite being an undeniable part of human existence, it is undoubtedly the worst part of it. The most loathsome part. He compares the idyllic life (as seen by one soldier) of the native inhabitants on the island as perhaps, the good side of human nature. Indeed, in order to make it through the horrors that occur during the attack on the Japanese outpost, all the soldiers examined try to find a little bit of what's good about humans to focus on. Whether it be the idyllic life of the natives, a lover back home, by turning to religion, or just observing the wonders of the jungle and its wildlife. There's much more to this film that can't really be touched on here. I've already gone on too long.
This film is not perfect. Some of the script doesn't work. But it is without doubt something to be admired and revered. It gives the mind more to chew on then a dozen or more of the usual Hollywood output. After Saving Private Ryan came out, some foolish people claimed that no more war films need be made. I think that notion has already been shattered, and I expect there will be many more great films dealing with war to come.