Ranks Among the Best War Films

Rating: 10/10 (19 June 2009)

Not a second is wasted in Terrence Malick's ambitious masterpiece, a meditation on death, courage, and love in the midst of war. John Toll's cinematography is stunning, and it is clear that every shot was well thought out and carefully considered. The stereotypes that are present in even the best of war films are non-existent here, each character acts like a human being, and we do not need any flashbacks or dialogue to truly get a sense of who they are. The acting is fantastic across the board, as each actor knows their character inside and out, conveying a wide range of emotions without the use of dialogue. Nick Nolte deserves special mention for his scene-stealing performance as Tall, and the ferocity he brings to the screen grabs your attention without distracting from the rest of the film. Malick gives the film a very intimate feel (this is especially apparent in the battle scenes), and the viewer experiences the wide range of emotions felt in the chaos that is war.