Do the Oscars ever get it right ?????????

Rating: Null/10 (17 February 2002)

I saw this film in the cinema when it first came out. Whilst I thought it was excellent ( Saving Private Who ? ) I never went back to it once it was on home rental. Until last night. I watched the film on DVD for the first time since the cinema and I was simply in awe.
I found the film very non-linear when I saw it in the cinema. Its possible that watching it in the cinema you are simply carried by the visuals, by the performances, by the sound, and not by the actual story. However, sitting down to it a second time I realise that the film is perfectly linear. The story is well told, never rushed, the wide range of characters ( who all represent different perspectives of war ) are each given just enough time for you to emote with them, and by the end I was almost willing a nearly 3 hour film to have at least another 3 hours of the same for me.
Visually, the film is remarkable ( as mentioned above, it can actually pull you away from the narrative if you let it ). Malick never lets you forget that the destruction and waste of war is taking place in amongst the beauty of nature.
There are two many individual performances to go into ( and all are uniformly excellent ), but Jim Caveizel is a revelation. Most of his performance is done without words, but with his face, his eyes, his complete detachment from the chaos around him. Hollywood should have sat up and taken note. There is a real talent here. Alas, his most high profile work since was the cheesy " Frequency. " We live in hope.
There is far too much in this film to compress it into a short review. If I gave time to one aspect, I would feel I had sold out another. Just sit down, take the phone out the wall, lock the door and tell your friends & neighbours they will be in BIG trouble if they interupt you in the next three hours, and watch one of the best films of recent years.
*** Footnote to the Acadamey: You are useless ! If ever a film was deserving of the big two ( Best Film / Best Director ) this was it. It was put in your lap, and you went for the melodrama of Saving Private Ryan ( which had a great opening 30 minutes, but after that......... come on ), and.....Im almost to embarrassed to say it.... Shakespeare in Love ! AAAAAARRRGGGHHH ! ***
This film 10/10