The Thin Red Line ***** (1998, Jim Caviezel, Ben Chaplin, John Cusack, Elias Koteas, Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Woody Harrelson, John C Reilly) – Classic Movie Review 478

An absolutely stonking, gut-wrenching and astounding poetic war movie masterpiece from legendary writer-director Terrence Malick, this was only his third film in three decades. Based on the autobiographical 1962 novel by James Jones (From Here to Eternity) and set during the Second World War, it tells a fictionalized version of the Battle of Mount Austen.

The $52million 1998 movie follows a US army rifle company during several months of one of the fiercest struggles of the 20th century – the Battle of Guadalcanal Island, many meeting their deaths. US Army troops are moved in to relieve weary American Marine units and they journey from the surprise of an unopposed landing to exhausting and bloody battles and to the ultimate departure of those who survive.

It had been a 20-year wait since Malick’s Days of Heaven (1978), but worth it. Jim Caviezel, Ben Chaplin, John Cusack, Elias Koteas and Nick Nolte are all outstanding. Only the star cameos of George Clooney (as Captain Charles Bosche) and John Travolta (as Brigadier General Quintard) seem a mistake. Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Woody Harrelson and John C Reilly also star, with Jared Leto as 2nd Lt. Whyte, Nick Stahl as Pfc Beade, Dash Mihok as Pfc Doll and Miranda Otto as Marty Bell.

Paul Gleeson as First Lieutenant George Band

John Toll’s cinematography is eye-popping and Hans Zimmer’s score outstanding. There were seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Score, but it won none.

The Thin Red Line was previously filmed by director Andrew Marton in 1964 and starred Keir Dullea, Jack Warden, James Philbrook and Kieron Moore.

Malick, who first came to fame with Badlands (1973), eventually followed The Thin Red Line with The New World (2005), The Tree of Life (2011), To the Wonder (2012) and Knight of Cups (2015).

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© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 478

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