Product: Flyboys [Blu-ray] (2006)
Rating: 5.0
'Flyboys' Soars! Four Flying Aces!
'Flyboys' is a great epic movie. It zeros in on a group of American World War I flying aces, volunteering before President Wilson reluctantly brought U.S. involvement into the war. Blaine Rawlings (James Franco) is the main protagonist. Born and bred as a cowboy in Texas, he volunteers for the bravado of adventure. He is joined by a wealthy American; an African-American who has expatriated to Paris as a boxer (and volunteered to fight wanting to escape both boxing and America); a pure-bred Bible Christian with a mission; a failed ex-con, fleeing the country; and an American trying to keep the family military lineage going. They join up with a French flying unit and are under the wing of an arrogant and wary American pilot residing at a mansion sized estate and their French commander, Capt. Thenault. Their mission proves to be more daunting than their initial cockiness calls them to be, but they soon learn and develop pilot and combat skills.The movie contains some dizzying airborne scenes that surpass post-modern expectations. (If this movie isn't playing at the I-Max, then it should be. Afterall, it would be a missed opportunity on the part of both the purveyor and the audience.) Besides a compelling plot (which is based on a true story, afterall) there's good comraderie and a romance added well to the mix. The former provides some well-developed complications and entertainment. For the romance, the innocent balcony-type scenes couldn't possibly offend anyone. If there seems to be a distance between Rawlings and his French girl, Lucianne (Jennifer Decker), it's because of a language barrier (something quite natural, for crying out loud!) But if love is a language, then there is a connection that surpasses the lack of dialogue. There aren't going to be any prizes awarded for the acting, but Franco is likable enough as the swaggering Rawlings, and the rest of the cast provide engaging performances, nevertheless. The tension and resentment based on class, experience, arrogance, and race is certainly given a believable treatment. How they can cover all of the bases, clock in without becoming tedious, mix it all up without becoming jarring, and provide an uplifting experience amongst the war and strife is a major achievement.Not to be too reactionary, but there's something to be said about the criticism of 'Flyboys'. To some it will seem like a cornball adventure. First, one must divide the worthy corn from the shmaltzy. This film works. (To be fair, critics do honor corny movies, but no one dies in 'Hoosiers' or 'Field of Dreams'.) Perhaps this movie makes some people uncomfortable because it does honor bravery in battle, chivalry, and comraderie. ('Flyboys' does contain some inspiring, but dated little pep talks that may inspire the "cliche'" label.) It may glorify the war experience, but it certainly doesn't hedge about the horrors. Wisely, almost expertly, they glide over the atrocities of war in a way that is both unvarnished, but not enough to entirely gross out the audience. Nothing is swept under the rug. As the new volunteers pass by casualties on a train platform, they find plenty of war's realities. (And, so does the audience.) I also believe that there may be less enthusiasm for 'Flyboys' because the German army presented has almost a generation remaining before they become Nazis (even if the enemy is certainly presented with enough menace). I prefer movies that promote peace over war. But if there is to be war, movies like 'Flyboys' are inspiring works which showcase four flying aces that show courage, heart, and chivalry. 'Flyboys' is a great war movie that soars!