Reviewing Movies

Some movies are so good they demand to be watched over and over and for me Band of Brothers despite a combined length of over 10 hours is one of these. Documenting the founding of the Airborne Regiment in the US during World War II it rises above Hoo Haw mentality to matter of factly delve into the lives of the people it portraits, downplays jingoistic nationalism, and gives us a soldier’s view of war without romanticizing, glorifying, or vilifying it. For added verity we get to meet the actual veterans whose lives are portrayed onscreen.

These men get “Dear John” letters, grouse about conditions, collect “souvenirs”, get the clap, complain about the chow, suffer battle fatigue, and get blown to bits. The shelling scenes in the Ardennes are among the most realistic and terrifying I’ve ever seen. There are few “big name” actors here and just as the name of the series suggests the actors in this series seem to have performed as an ensemble. Though having a father who was an Executive Producer couldn’t have hurt Colin Hanks casting chances.

Although there is never any doubt that Dick Winters is in charge; he is universally honoured by his superiors and his men; the story is told from many points of view and depending on the scene various characters take turns narrating the storyline. One of the highlights of the series is the close relationship that develops between Winters, a teetotaller; and his intelligence officer the alcoholic Lewis Nixon who stores his illicit hooch in Winters’ footlocker. A source of comic relief is the consummate mimic George Luz who seems to have a bottomless repertoire of catch-phrases: “Remember troops, flies cause disease, keep yours closed.” His lasting buddy, buddy relationship with Frank Paconte is one of the running gags of the series

In a unit that sustained nearly a 200% casualty rate the reticence of men who had survived since basic training to befriend ‘replacements’ can be understood; but the bonds that existed among the Toccoa Men ran deep. The fact that these savvy veterans managed to survive despite the odds says loads about their training and their smarts. We also see our share of “empty uniforms” including their original Captain, Sobel—who gets lost in the field; Private Albert Blithe, who freezes in battle; and Lieutenant Norman Dike—a West-Pointer with no battle smarts. Everyone but Winters has a nickname by which he is referred to by everyone but Doc Roe who has treated so many injured and dying men that he has trouble getting close to anyone—even the French Nurse who befriends him is blown up with her entire Red Cross Centre.

One of the more distinguishing characteristics of this series is the fact that no matter how harrowing or devastating the action on screen has been the background music is always serene—the notable exception being the scenes in the Death Camp. Having read Stephen Ambrose’s original of the same name upon which this series was based I can truthfully say it follows it faithfully. Along with Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings this series stands among the great motion picture accomplishments of all time. I will be watching it again and again as years pass.

At some point in the last three years Leonardo DiCaprio has grown a beard and beefed up considerably. He’s no longer the reticent willowy lover boy of Romeo and Juliet fame. I noted the change in discussing The Departed but in Blood Diamonds all pretence at innocence is gone. This guy not only fights his own battles but is often the aggressor. When he goes to meet his crime boss after losing a fortune in diamonds he approaches him with the kind of nonchalance that says, if you’re going to kill me get it over with.

The violence that is portrayed onscreen mirrors the kind of genocide that led Romeo Dallaire to a mental breakdown. We see children who haven’t reached puberty being trained to be blood-thirsty killers. First white men engaged in the trade of human beings for slavery; then they discovered ivory and rhino horns, oil, soil to grow coffee, and diamonds. All in their turn have served to disrupt the lives of indigenous Africans. In most cases the profits have lined the pockets of a corrupt few and led to the slaughter and dislocation of local populations. The flood of new money serves to provide more efficient means to fuel ancient hatreds and enmities. People don’t seem to have names; they have roles to play in the meat grinder that is life; here today and gathering flies on rotting corpses the next. Take a traditionally nomadic society separated from the ones they love and the need to fulfill sexual needs by whatever means possible and throw Aids into the mix and you have a population where a substantial proportion is infected. Add children made vulnerable by the lack of adult supervision and tropical diseases are decimating the young. Life here is tough enough without ethnic groups fighting one another.

I’m no judge of whether truth and reconciliation is working in South Africa, but it would seem that the entire continent could use some. I’m not sure that I buy Leo as an action anti-hero but the thing sure blows up real good, the bullets fly, and the bodies keep piling up.