Spectacular. Visionary Excellent Film very misunderstood.

Rating: 9/10 (30 August 1999)

Everyone seems to have seen "Saving Private Ryan." Whenever I mention "The Thin Red Line." I often get the following responses "I heard it sucked." "It's self indulgent." "It didn't have a main character." "No one could figure it out." Needless to say, bad press can really kill a film. I was glad the academy was able to at least nominate it for an award but unfortunately the great power and popularity of Steven Speilberg just overwhelmed the public and put "The Thin Red Line" into obscurity. Terrence Malick is a genius. "Badlands and "Days of Heaven" were indications of his ability and "The Thin Red Line confirms it." The narrative style and lack of a central character are far from flaws. They are artistic techniques that unfortunately most of the public just didn't get. The cinematography by John Toll is spectacular and Malick's use of the visual metaphor is unparalleled. See it and you will believe it. The film is spectacular.