Beginning in 1861 with the attack by Confederate forces on Fort Sumter, the "War Between the States" was the bloodiest war in United States history, and left an indelible mark on the nation that persists to this day.
From this conflict we, often quite literally, get insight into brother fighting brother, and into the true horrors of having to kill our fellow man for our country.
The films that center around the Civil War aren't often about good vs. bad, or us vs. them, rather they tend to focus inward, at the characters and generally the character of man.
Sometimes you just have to go back, and I mean way back for some interesting war movie action.
Well, maybe not action so much, but the 2000 issue of Civil War Films of the Silent Era takes us back to the time before World War I, before the notion of a "war movie" had even become ingrained in our culture. These three films provide an interesting perspective, but still seem to carry similar themes you'd see today. I'll cover each of these separately, and then end with my complaints about this nearly-excellent collection....
The US Civil War is a period that hasn't received as much attention as World War II, or Vietnam, but the few films or miniseries that have come out about it have been nothing short of great.
1989's Glory continues that legacy. Starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, and Morgan Freeman, its the story of one of the few all-black Union companies formed during the war, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
In itself, Glory is a fine picture. The performances by the above four are nothing short of spectacular. The battle scenes depict just what a terrific nightmare and waste of life warfare in the period was. And it portrays the conflict of the North vs. the "property owner" mentality of the seceding South brilliantly.
And of course you have typical "military" moments such as supply issues, conflict within the ranks, etc. etc. etc.
For all its greatness, though, one thing bothers me about Glory. At times it comes across as purposefully, over-the-top, politically correct. There are numerous scenes which, of course, looked at today you can't help but read into them what the director and writers put into them. I (much as I hate to say it) think though that such moments in reality wouldn't have given the actual participants much, if any pause at all. Times being what they were and all. Context being everything you know.
Some of the violence is a bit on the light side, some of it not. But if you can allow the PC-ness of parts to slide, then Glory is one you can't miss. You might be able to catch this on HDNet Movies again in the near future (as I was able to.)
Stephen Crane's classic novel, "The Red Badge of Courage", about a boy who becomes a man through the trials of his experience in the Civil War is turned into a glossy Cliff Notes version here.
Starring Richard "John Boy Walton" Thomas, his less-than-stellar performance is the highlight of the hour. Which is about all the longer this made-for-TV fiasco is (thank goodness!)
The production is mediocre, and I quickly grew weary of the strings-and-harmonica "country" soundtrack they plastered on here.
Better yet, sit down and just read the book. I'm sure most of us had to read it at one point in our schooled past, but it might warrant a second look....
Sometimes you just have to go back, and I mean way back for some interesting war movie action.
