Product: Casualties of War [UMD for PSP] (1989)
Rating: 2.0
Political Porpaganda
Only gave this two stars because the filming was so good. This is programmed propaganda because in the actual event, the squad was composed of African Americans. This is another case (and I have examples galore!) of Hollowwood turning out a "Propaganda Product" and passing it off as a documentary. Please note how the glowing reviews such as L. S. don't mention this major change in the film, though she says that the "actors are perfect for their roles". Right.Here is an actual event in history where all parties are known, film and photographs and transcripts are availible, but De Palma and Penn just can't tell it as it happened because it would reflect badly on a minority population in the U.S.A. The race of the perps is an important aspect to the film because it had been less than 25 years earlier that the U.S. Army had been integrated.Not content with portraying all Vietnam veterans as baby killers and psychos, De Palma works to make sure that any crimes committed in Vietnam are laid on the feet of Mr. White Man. This is like filming "Tora, Tora, Tora" and having whites in Zero's bombing brave Africans on the American Ships; with Denzel Washington playing Admrial Nimitz! Also please note that race of the victim is not changed.